WORK

Is your teen struggling to identify their after-graduation plans or goals? Do they get stressed when organizing their future careers? Work includes labor or exertion related to the development, production, delivery, or management of objects or services. Read on to see how OTs can help your child plan their future related to work and volunteer services.

Young girl wearing doctor costume and playing doctor on a stuffed toy

Strength-based approach:

  • The OT will give your child a career interests checklist to: understand your child’s strengths and skills, understand your child's likes and dislikes, and identify potential areas of work based on your child’s unique skills and interests

  • The OT will explore post-graduate plans to increase your child’s independence when transitioning to young adulthood, including discussing housing option resources and collaborating with your child to create long-term goals following graduation from high school

Planning:

  • Collaborate with your child in identifying community resources that will aid them in planning for the future: public transportation services, websites for locating career opportunities, independent living/housing resources, college/university requirements, organizations for providing accommodations at the job site to ensure success if your child has a diagnoses impacting their career

Volunteer work:

  • Collaborate with your child to explore volunteer opportunities: assisting your child in identifying potential after school volunteer opportunities, education on balancing work with school and extracurricular activities, working with your child to create a schedule to manage time appropriately for volunteer opportunities

Obtaining a work position:

  • Collaborate with your child to develop self-advocacy and interpersonal skills in preparation for interviews

  • Education on appropriate attire for interviews

  • Role play in preparation for interviews

  • Assist your child in creating a resume to advocate for their skill set/experience

  • Assist your child in feeling comfortable in advocating for reasonable accommodations if necessary (i.e., adapted seating, scheduled rest breaks, extended deadlines)

  • Ensure your child understands the work demands of a job