Maine Employment Curriculum
About the MEC
The University of Maine’s Center for Community Inclusion
and Disability Studies, in collaboration with the Maine Department of
Behavioral and Developmental Services and the Bureau of Rehabilitation
Services, developed a comprehensive curriculum on best practice
employment supports for individuals with disabilities. Work on the
curriculum was a year long effort involving representatives from BDS,
the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, the Center and community
providers.
The
Maine Employment Curriculum for Employment Support Professionals was
initially unveiled at the University of Maine on July 15, 2002, at a
week-long leadership institute that brought community rehabilitation
providers from across the state to the Orono campus. A second leadership
institute was conducted in October 2003.
Information about other
approved Maine BDS employment specialist training is available here.
The Curriculum
The Maine Employment Curriculum is taught in 14 modules.
Those seeking job coach certification are required to successfully
complete the eight modules listed below under the Job Coach Strand.
Those seeking employment specialist certification are required to take
the additional six modules listed under the Employment Specialist
Strand.
Required
Modules - Job Coach Strand
Module 1 – An Employment Vision
Participants learn about best practices in providing
employment supports in integrated workplaces, the history of
employment supports and about significant legislation related to
employment supports for individuals with disabilities. These topics
are discussed within the broader context of the evolving nature of
supports for individuals with disabilities.
Module 3 – Providing On-Site
Supports: Roles and Responsibilities
This module addresses the broad range of
responsibilities of a job coach. These responsibilities include
teaching skills, working with various stakeholders, and promoting
workplace inclusion.
Module 4 – Using Assessment to
Provide On-Site Support
Participants learn about how to use information from
various types of assessment to successfully support job skill
acquisition and workplace integration. Additionally, participants
learn about collecting and maintaining relevant data.
Module 8 – Skill Acquisition
Part 1
Participants learn how to use a task analysis and to
identify natural cues and reinforcement.
Module 9 – Skill Acquisition
Part 2
Participants learn how to
provide prompts using a “least prompt” strategy, how to fade
prompts, and how to use effective error correction procedures.
Module 10 – Skill Acquisition
Part 3
Topics addressed in this module include: self
management techniques, workplace accommodations, assistive
technology and strategies for increasing productivity.
Module 11 – Building Natural
Supports and Understanding Workplace Culture
Participants learn how to enlist natural supports to
help individuals with disabilities with any activities related to
employment. They will also learn about the concept of “workplace
culture” and how they can support individuals to become members of
their workplace communities.
Module 12 - Positive Supports
in the Workplace
Participants learn strategies for supporting
individuals who have behavior that might interfere with their
ability to obtain a job, keep a job, or to participate fully in the
culture of the workplace.
Required
Modules - Employment Specialist Strand
Employment specialists must complete all eight modules of the job coach
strand. In addition they should complete the following six modules:
Module 2 – Assessment for Career
Planning
Participants learn skills that they need to collect
assessment information and to support individuals with disabilities
in career planning.
Module 5 – Marketing and
Employer Development
Participants learn how to use a “marketing approach”
to developing business connections and networks. In addition
participants learn effective strategies for negotiating and
communicating with employers.
Module 6 – Marketing and Job
Development
This module addresses the development of marketing
plans, job matching strategies, job carving and other
accommodations.
Module 7 – Coordinating Supports
& Managing Benefits
Participants explore issues related to benefits and
work incentives. More importantly, they familiarize themselves with
additional resources that can be used in helping individuals with
disabilities navigate these complex laws and regulations.
Module 13 Understanding the
Unique Needs of Individuals
Participants learn about general characteristics and
employment support needs of adults and transition-aged youth with
various disability labels.
Module 14 Post-Placement
Support
Participants learn about strategies for obtaining
and maintaining support for people with disabilities after they have
been successfully placed in a job.
Find a local training
Click here to find a local instructor
Click here to find out when trainings are available
Preliminary Findings
Since July, 2002:
