My BRS Work Evaluation starts tomorrow at 10:00 AM-3:00 PM at a non-profit office. My job will be verifying data by calling people and doing data entry. This work Evaluation is from Tuesday July 6th 2010- Thursday July 15th 2010. I do not work on Saturday and Sunday. There will be a job developer on-site to evaluate my performance.
I have my outfit prepared for Tuesday and Wednesday.I picked out the outfit with staff support.On Wednesday, I meet with my counselor and she will help me pick out an outfit for Thursday.
The problem is I don’t have a lot of work clothes. So I will have to do laundry twice a week. 19 months ago
Volunteer:
Due to my sister’s High School graduation in New york, I did not volunteer last thursday June 10th 2010.
However, I did volunteer on Thursday June 17th 2010. I was a little unfocused with chopping and washing because I wanted to get the Rough Draft of my Primary Source Analysis Paper done at the Library. I started at 12:30 PM (early) and ended at 2:55 PM ( the coordinator let me go five minitues early).
BRS Followup Meeting:
My BRS Followup Meeting is scheduled for the 23rd of June. I have found out I have a work assessment place, but the hours and date starting isn’t confirmed. The only thing definite about work asessment is that it will start some time after my summer course ends.
I will also discuss CCA and whether Workforce Alliance is appropriate or not at the meeting.
AJH198720 months ago
1. I called and left a message on Friday for my BRS counselor if she knows which places in greater Elm City offer Word and PowerPoint Training during the summer and if any of them offer accommodations.
2. I emailed my BRS counselor about more information about Workforce Alliance/CT works,what she thinks of them, what sessions she recommends, and if I can bring a support person with me. I should get an answer back by Wednesday at least. 20 months ago
Today was my second day of doing food prep at the Soup Kitchen and I continue to enjoy it. This time, I chopped eggplant, tomatoes,and summer squash with another person named M. Me and M washed the veggies before chopping. M got distracted in the end worked on chopping the cucumbers with T. I took initiative and continued chopping the tomatoes.
Overall: I did not curse and I asked for assistance. I remembered bringing the hairnet I bought and I wore it. I think I did okay today with volunteering. 20 months ago
At the Career Services appointment, Me and my career counselor P went over the Focus Career Assessment results. The career assessment results are self paced. She agreed with me based on the career assessment results, that I should not change my major. I told P about the summer session a course I will be taking on June 1st, Western Civilization I. She also made copies of an article I was in and an award I had received for her folder.
I mentioned I wanted to take computer classes in the summer (July and August) and that I had contacted some places. She mentioned Elm City Adult Ed. We called them and they said that they don’t offer summer classes.
Before I want to Career Services, I contacted Ed2go at the local community college. Ed2go offers online courses only and no financial aid is offered.
I mentioned the BRS Prep rally and I mentioned that I learned a lot of interviewing skills, but also need to learn how to disclose my disability and how to interview better. P said disclosing one’s disability in an employment setting is a choice.
I came back with a couple of to dos:
1. Call and email my BRS counselor inquiring about places that offer Microsoft Word and Powerpoint Mini classes (In person) and can offer accommodations.
2. Call and email my BRS counselor inquiring about CT-works in Elm City/ Hamden, what workshops she recommends, and if I can bring my support person. 20 months ago
Today, I will be going to be my university’s career services for an appointment at 10:00AM-11:00 AM. They will look over my resume to see if any changes will need to be made and my results from the FOCUS career assessments, which are self paced. I will inform them that I went to the BRS Prep rally in North Haven and that I got a lot of feedback,which was very helpful. I will also inform them that I will be taking a summer session A course starting June 1st.
The Second thing I have today is volunteer at the soup kitchen downtown from 1:00 PM-3:00PM. I bought the hair-net last week so I can put my hair in it for health code reasons. The place doesn’t allow flip flops. 20 months ago
I will update you all as soon as I get back which will be after 6:00PM.
UPDATE:
NOTE: My support person came to the BRS Prep rally with me.
In the morning, I worked on my resume on on one with someone from a non-profit that is affiliated with BRS. I needed to remove my objective and modify a few things on my resume.
I also got some tips in the morning on preparing for the Mock interviews. I was given a cheat sheet of how to prepare for an interview and questions to ask the interviewer during the mock interviews.
My first Mock Interview was at the table I was originally assigned. I was mock interviewed for a clerical position. The overall feedback I received was that I was very organized, but there was a lack of focus. The Mock Interviewer wanted me to re-mock interview, but we had to leave because there wasn’t a enough time.
During the afternoon, I participated in some mock interviews. I got some feedback.
The feedback was how I responded to some of the mock interview questions such as Are you a Team Player? Is your schedule flexible? was that I needed improvement in answering questions in these areas.
I didn’t disclose specifically that I had Asperger’s Syndrome, but I disclosed that my communication skills needed improvement and that I am working with a social skills coach and Speech language pathologist on them. However, I have received negative feedback from my support person and from a Mock Interviewer about this particular thing. This is an issue I could also work on.
Another thing some of the mock interviewers said is that I could have researched the positions before applying. This is something I need to work on.
I left the Prep Rally at 3:30 PM and came back at 4:00 PM. 20 months ago
I have not had the work assessment. I am hoping it will get done.
However, I have a BRS Followup meeting on June 23rd at 1:00 PM to discuss vocational progress and career progress. They will discuss the work assessment. The BRS coordinator,staff at the program along with the APP coordinators will be there.
I am also going to a Prep rally sponsored by BRS and Connect-Ability this tuesday. This will help me with interviewing skills. It is all day.
I no longer volunteer at Saint Raphael.It didn’t work out. I now volunteer at a Soup Kitchen in Downtown Elm City doing food preparation and cleaning dishes on Thursdays.I love my new volunteer position.
I also changed my major to Liberal Studies, which encompasses three minors. The minors I have chosen include creative writing, wellness, and sociology. 21 months ago
I have good news.
I am getting a vocational assessment provided by BRS in late January 2010 for a part-time clerical position. BRS will be assessing whether or not I have the skills needed to enter the workforce.
I have sent my resume to my BRS counselor, my job coach and my DRC advisor in college. I will get assistance with interviewing skills and updating my resume. 2 years ago
