Vocational Assessments

Course Code: REL-IDD-0-VA

Hours: 0.75

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2028

Learning Objectives:
Explain the limitations of traditional vocational assessments for job seekers with significant disabilities.
Identify alternative assessment strategies that better capture a job seeker’s abilities and employment potential.

Outline:
Section 1: Understanding Traditional Vocational Assessments

Not Quite the Full Picture

What Went Wrong?

Why Does This Matter?

An Overview of Traditional Vocational Assessments

What Is a Vocational Assessment?

What Do Traditional Vocational Assessments Look Like?

Limitations of Traditional Assessments

Knowledge Check

Key Takeaways

Section 2: Alternative Approaches to Vocational Assessments

Moving Beyond Traditional Assessments

Rethinking How to Approach Vocational Assessment

Tasha Rethinks Her Approach

Common Alternative Assessment Tools and Strategies

Observation and Discovery

Informal Interviews and Conversations

Visual Tools and Vocational Portfolios

Situational Assessments

Job Trials

Building the Full Picture, One Strategy at a Time

Tasha Puts the Pieces Together

Knowledge Check

Key Takeaways

Section 3: Conclusion

Course Summary

Course Contributors

Resources

References

Writer: Jessica Edwards, BS, QIDP

Jessica is a SME Writer at Relias. Her primary writing responsibilities are in the Health and Human Services vertical, in the content area of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Jessica received her Bachelor of Science in Health Science, with a concentration in Disability Studies and Human Development, from Stony Brook University. She has over eight years of experience serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their supporters, including roles as a direct support professional, case manager, and qualified professional. Her experiences and coursework over the years have allowed her to develop a strong knowledge of person-centered planning and care, community resources, and service delivery.

Subject Matter Expert: David Morstad, M.Ed.

David Morstad has a long career in the IDD field. He has served as a Corporate Director of Training, VP/Communications, and Executive Director and Senior Fellow of the Bethesda Institute. He is a Fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and a sought-after writer and speaker on issues of leadership in the disability field.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Direct Support Professionals (DSP); in the following settings: Intellectual Developmental Disabiilties: Home and Community-Based Services, Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: Agency, Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: Family Living Homes, Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF/IID), Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: Residential Services, Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: Residential Supported Living Services.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.