Intern background / history:

William is a senior who has Tourette's syndrome. He exhibits frequent and inappropriate loud verbalizations at times. He is receiving medication for his condition. His outbursts and tics can affect the entire work site atmosphere. Those who know him well tolerate his outbursts and tend to cover for him. He can be manipulative and use his disability to avoid work.

Task/Assignment:

Legal assistant/researcher. Look up court cases on the Internet, review and synthesize, write short reports, copy appropriate related material.

Equipment: (Job equipment, protective clothing, chemicals)

Computer, word processing software, Internet connection.

Environment: (fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, group-work)

Team assignments may be distracting to William. Check his progress frequently.

Physical Challenges

15. Other: Constant verbal outbursts

Accommodations Needed

• Don't react to negative outbursts or single him out. Explain Tourette's syndrome to co-workers as appropriate and if William provides written permission to do so.
• Minimize stressful work conditions.

Options and Resources

• Talk with William about work site options he might prefer.
• Ask for permission to describe his disability to co-workers.

Sensory Challenges

Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed

Not applicable.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Cognitive Challenges

8. Other: Easily distracted; difficulty paying attention.

Accommodations Needed

• Allow him work in a quiet location.
• Minimize distractions and changes in work schedule/assignments.
• Create a written list of assignments and schedules. Review the list frequently for completion and level of quality.
• Hold William's attention when describing job tasks. You may need to repeat instructions directly to him. This is especially true with safety procedures.

Options and Resources

• Talk to William about strategies that will help him stay focused on tasks.

Intern background / history:

Phoebe is a junior in college. She is a bright and intelligent student who is planning to become a veterinarian. She has only one hand, with only a small residual limb below the elbow. She tries to be as independent as possible. She has a prothesis for grasping objects. In addition, she uses a grabbing device. A surgical glove on her hand helps her hold slippery objects. She has some difficulty manipulating some small objects. Phoebe works well in teams or with a peer worker, always contributing and doing her part of the group assignment.

Task/Assignment:

Participating in an internship in a veterinarian's office.

Equipment: (Job equipment, protective clothing, chemicals)

Lab coat, surgical gloves, glassware/test tube, microscope and slides, syringes

Environment: (fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, group-work)

Not applicable.

Physical Challenges

1. Lifting. Carrying large objects / animals.
7. Fine motor: pinch / grasp. Finger manipulations.

Accommodations Needed

1. Provide a peer-worker.
2. Provide a C-clamp for holding some lab objects.
3. Provide a surgical glove for handling wet or slippery items.
4. Provide beakers and other equipment with handles.
5. Provide more time for completing duties and require a high level of quality.
6. Consider tape-recorded charts or computer generated charts to limit handwriting requirements.
7. Provide a scribe for some charting.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Sensory Challenges

Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed

Not applicable.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Cognitive Challenges

Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed

Not applicable.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Intern background / history:

Alan is a college senior who has a mild learning disability. He has extreme short-term memory loss and cannot handle complex assignments. He has difficulty processing mathematic concepts (dyscalculia). Alan has demonstrated leadership skills, responsibility, and good judgement. He can get angry when his disability affects his learning. Alan hates to acknowledge that he has a disability and does not like to receive special services or be singled out in any way.

Task/Assignment:

Social worker internship at Campus Disabled Student Services office.

Equipment: (Job equipment, protective clothing, chemicals)

Computer with word processing software.

Environment: (fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, group-work)

Choose peer-workers carefully. A supportive peer is essential, however, Alan should not be in a team that does the work for him. A supportive peer may prevent some hostility. Check progress frequently.

Physical Challenges

Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed

Not applicable.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Sensory Challenges

Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed

Not applicable.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Cognitive Challenges

1. Short term memory.
2. Long term memory.
3. Task complexity.
4. Reading.
5. Writing.
6. Spelling.
10. Advocating issues.

Accommodations Needed

• Have him take notes on each job assignment.
• Write down job description / tasks.
• Encourage use of a Daytimer or Franklin Planner.
• Verbalize carefully & repeat instructions.
• Provide mentoring when possible.
• Computer with spell-check software.
• Support self-advocacy efforts.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Intern background / history:

Richard is a junior in college. He is deaf, has low muscle tone, and some neurological problems. He is bright and communicates through a sign language interpreter, written notes, electronic mail, and some lip reading. Richard uses dual hearing aids. He has some difficulites with reading comprehension. Richard loves math and computers.

Task/Assignment:

Assistant in Human Resources Office of a large corporation.

Equipment: (Job equipment, protective clothing, chemicals)

Computer with word processing software.

Environment: (fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, group-work)

Monitor team assignments closely.

Physical Challenges

1. Lifting.
3. Push / pull.
12. Balance.
14. Stoop / crouch.

Accommodations Needed

• Have Richard practice lifting small objects / loads.
• Share responsibilities with co-workers.
• Provide assistance with tasks involving fine motor skills.

Options and Resources

• Work with employer to evenly distribute job tasks.

Sensory Challenges

2. Hearing.

Accommodations Needed

• Speak directly to Richard.
• Provide written material and describe / explain procedures and written content.
• Team with a peer-worker.
• Provide interpreter for staff meetings and interviews.
• Encourage use of e-mail as a means of communication with supervisor and co-workers.

Options and Resources

• Campus DSS can assist with securing interpreter services.
• Student may have an e-mail account through the university.

Cognitive Challenges

3. Task complexity.
4. Reading level.
10. Self-esteem advocacy issues.

Accommodations Needed

• Support self-advocacy efforts.
• Pair with peer.
• Set boundaries and do not assign less work in complexity or volume.
• Check comprehension of reading materials.
• Provide additional assistance with abstract concepts.
• Provide computer dictionary, thesaurus & vocabulary building components.

Options and Resources

• Provide scheduling software to assist with planning and scheduling interpreters.
• Use vocabulary building software.

Intern background / history:

Zoe is a senior in college who has cerebral palsy. She has good upper body strength, but limited fine motor skills. Manipulating small objects can be difficult. She uses a wheelchair and can also use crutches for shorter distances. Zoe is cooperative and very assertive in making her physical needs known and understood to her employers, co-workers, and instructors. She strives to make her work perfect. She tends to fatigue easily and experiences memory difficulties with complex tasks.

Task/Assignment:

Intern in the Finace Department of a large corporation.

Equipment: (Job equipment, protective clothing, chemicals)

Lab equipment should be adaptable to her crutches and wheelchair.

Environment: (fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, group-work)

Not applicable.

Physical Challenges

2. Endurance and stamina
5. Reaching equipment
7. Finger manipulation, pinch, and grasp
11. Standing
12. Balance

Accommodations Needed

• Provide a "grabber" device and surgical gloves to increase ability to grasp objects
• Provide a work station that is low enough and accessible to a wheelchair

Options and Resources

• Get information on accessible office/lab furniture from local vendor
• Get information on accessible transportation to and from the worksite
• Purchase adaptive technology for computer access (e.g. speech recognition, word prediction)

Sensory Challenges

Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed

Not applicable.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Cognitive Challenges

2. Long term memory.

Accommodations Needed

• Provide printed and tape-recorded job assignments.
• Provide feedback on performance frequently.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.

Intern background / history:

Ken is a junior in college. He is outgoing. He likes to work without much assistance and is independent in most situtations. He needs assistance for lab-oriented teaching experiences. Special effort should be placed on providing a good room orientation as Ken is blind and uses a cane for mobility. He reads Braille.

Task/Assignment:

Actively participating in a student teaching practicum.

Equipment: (Job equipment, protective clothing, chemicals)

Equipment needs to provide speech output for his computer. Also provide Braille markers on files and storage drawers.

Environment: (fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, group-work)

Working in a group is a good strategy as long as group members help maximize Ken's participation.

Physical Challenges

15. Other: Physical orientation.

Accommodations Needed

• A thorough classroom / school facility orientation should be conducted including all safety aspects of the facility. Emergency evacuation should be addressed.
• Classroom layout should remain constant.
• Work area should be uncluttered.

Options and Resources

• Vision specialist for access and mobility concerns. Contact State Department of Services for the Blind.
• Talk with student teacher about school layout and emergency procedures.

Sensory Challenges

1. Blind.

Accommodations Needed

• Provide Braille labels on equipment drawers.
• Provide good verbal descriptions of visual objects.
• Team with a responsible teacher.
• Give extra time to complete job assignments due to slower Braille reading speed.
• Provide assistance with some manipulatives.
• Provide computer with Braille and speech output.

Options and Resources

• Talk with student teacher about best accommodations for specific activities.
• Work with computer specialist to adapt computer to meet vision needs.

Cognitive Challenges

Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed

Not applicable.

Options and Resources

Not applicable.