Next Steps! Employment Class – Active Listening
Purpose: I was contracted by the Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky (DSACK) to create an employment class for the inaugural 2022 Next Steps! Classes. Time allowed for three days with each group of students over two weeks and two days of review / application classes for two large groups of students the last week of the program. The focus of the class was active listening.
Each class started with small talk, asking the students what they did the night before, talking about music, movies, food, sports. I have found that this is an important activity with all students who have unique abilities (also know as special needs). So often they are never given the chance to be seen or heard, a little conversation goes a long way.
The next thing we did was play an ice breaker game using Uno cards, but anything with colors will work. We are only interested in the four colors; red, blue, yellow, green. The colors were used to direct responses. Each round we changed the what the colors stood for, often times letting the students determine what they wanted to share and learn about each other.
After the ice breaker game I would give a very short talk. Then we would collectively practice active listening skills by repeating back what we learned. What is amazing to me is that even students who have severe communication difficulties were able to share something. It is not amazing that they did it, as much as how eager they are to take control when given the chance to do so.
Pre-employment Classes for Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky – 2019
Designed curriculum complete with videos and workbook to teach the basics of self-advocacy, self awareness, self esteem, self determination, workplace responsibilities, communication skills, and rights and responsibilities.
Pre-employment Classes for Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky – 2018
I taught curriculum developed by Build Inclusion teaching the basics of self-advocacy, self awareness, self esteem, self determination, workplace responsibilities, communication skills, and rights and responsibilities.
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