Inside Pre-ETS - Week Ending August 19, 2022

Welcome to our weekly newsletter, packed with information about classes, events, and more!

Pre-ETS Group Classes

Community Transitions (CT)

CT students were asked to reflect on their experiences with Pre-ETS so far. Some students have attended workshops, some have tried out work experiences, and all of the Pre-ETS students have learned or improved skills to prepare for finding employment. When asked the question, “What is a skill you have learned in Pre-ETS?”, here is what some students wanted to share:

• “I got better at talking.” - Piper
• “I liked making banana bread [in Dig In].” - Ava
• “I learned how to stand up for myself and learned how to cook.” - Jenny

Several students - and the instructors - drew pictures to go along with the stories of their Pre-ETS experiences. Stay tuned for website updates to check them out!

Dig In!

Students made banana bread this week. They practiced their teamwork skills by deciding amongst themselves who got to perform which task of making the banana bread and measuring the ingredients together.

Let’s Talk About It

Students learned about money management and practiced handling money. They played a game where they figured out different ways to evenly exchange different amounts of coins for dollar bills. This skill can come in handy in any job that involves handling money.

Student Self-Advocates

This week, students played Jeopardy and Bamboozle to review self-advocacy terms and discuss situations in which they would advocate for themselves. They also discussed what other activities they will be starting soon, including:

• Speakers Series: Once per month, a guest speaker will educate students about various resources available to them during and after high school.
• The “Drain Gang”: Some of the Student Self-Advocates will be responsible for maintaining a local storm drain located at the corner of E Wilson St and S Washington St.
• The “Pantry Protectors”: Some of the Student Self-Advocates will be responsible for maintaining, restocking, and soliciting donations for the Little Pantry located at Stone Belt on E 10th St.
• Officer Positions: Students that are interested in running for President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer of Student Self-Advocates for the 2022-2023 year will be given the opportunity to run in an election for their desired positions. Other students will vote for the members of their choice.

Please click here to register for classes, as seating is limited. Instructors can transport students from school to Milestones for classes. If this is an option you would like to utilize, please contact your Pre-ETS instructor upon signing up. We look forward to seeing you there!

Coffee With A Boss

Stay tuned to find out who Pre-ETS will interview for September’s episode of Coffee With A Boss!

In the meantime, feel free to check out the Pre-ETS Website to view the most recent Coffee With A Boss. Pre-ETS had the opportunity to interview Jason Winkle, PhD, the CEO of the Monroe County YMCA. He let us learn more about his career path that led him to the YMCA. He has a heart for serving and has learned many lessons along the way that he uses now in his career.

What Else Did Pre-ETS Do This Week?

Pre-ETS had the opportunity to attend the Open House/Meet and Greet at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship. Instructors shared information about the program with students, parents, and school personnel. Some of our current students helped prepare all of the flyers and forms for the event. Keep an eye out for Pre-ETS at other open houses next week!

In Focus:

Workplace Readiness Training… What Is That?

Workplace readiness traits describe a number of commonly-expected skills that employers seek from employees. Work readiness skills are a set of skills and behaviors that are necessary for any job. Work readiness skills are sometimes called soft skills, employability skills, or job-readiness skills.

These abilities help employees learn how to interact with supervisors and coworkers. They help reinforce the importance of timeliness and build an understanding of how we are perceived by others. Employers value employees who can communicate effectively and act professionally. No matter what technical skills a job may require, every job requires good social/interpersonal skills, independent-living skills (which carry over into the workplace), and other training areas.

Examples of social/interpersonal skills include:

• communication
• positive attitude
• teamwork
• problem-solving
• cooperation
• active listening
• decision-making
• conflict resolution
• appropriate body language
• professionalism
• good manners
• supporting others
• being respectful

Examples of independent living skills include:

• good hygiene
• time management
• using a phone
• using transportation
• money management
• nutrition and meal preparation
• accessing community services & supports
• community participation and safety
• appropriate dress
• appropriate behavior

Examples of other training areas include:

• financial literacy
• orientation and mobility skills (with or without reasonable accommodations)
• job-seeking skills, including creating a resume and interview skills
• understanding employer expectations for things such as punctuality and job performance
• many other "soft" skills necessary for employment

Workplace readiness training is one of the five core services that Pre-ETS has to offer its students. Instructors provide students with lessons and activities in a variety of formats to help them learn and practice the skills mentioned above.  It helps to prepare students for a successful transition from high school to employment or post-secondary training and education.

Don’t forget to check out the resources on our Pre-ETS Website. Updates to the website are coming soon!

Other Resources and Events:

988 Line

As of July 16, 2022, 988 is now live as a new national three-digit dialing code for reaching the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The current long-form phone number of 800-273-TALK will also continue to be an option.

988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number—it will offer a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health, substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 9-8-8 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, or a mental health or substance use crisis, please call 9-8-8 to reach Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and speak with a trained crisis specialist 24/7. For more information, please click here.

10th Annual Fishtival

Saturday, September 10, 2022, 9am-1pm

Paynetown—Twin Oaks Shelter, 4850 S. State Road 446, Bloomington, IN

HIGHLIGHTS:

Poles / Bait provided & fishing assistance

Boat Rides

Food & Beverage

Fun, Fun, Fun!!

Faith and Disability Webinar

Thursday, September 15, 2022, 2pm

Dr. Erik Carter will be providing helpful knowledge and resources to better equip direct support professionals, people with disabilities, and their families to advocate for inclusion when they attend any faith community of choice. We know it is very challenging to walk into a space where the people may not be welcoming, respectful, and accessible/accommodating of people with disabilities. Dr. Carter will talk about how to better equip ourselves to be those advocates to respectfully have those conversations. Click here to learn more about Dr. Carter and to register - it’s FREE!

Job-A-Palooza 2022

Job-A-Palooza will be back IN-PERSON this fall! Thanks to the Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee, Stone Belt and LIFEDesigns will be hosting Job-A-Palooza 2022 on Wednesday, October 19th. This event helps individuals with disabilities get a closer look into employment paths with local employers by trying actual job tasks, and they will have the opportunity to ask questions about employment. Participants also get to practice interview skills by completing mock interviews with the recruiters from Stone Belt and LIFEDesigns. Registration is FREE for participants and employers! For more information about this event, visit the Job-A-Palooza Facebook page, or email jobapaloozabtown@gmail.com.

New “MALL” in Bloomington

Check out the Mobility Aid Lending Library (MALL) at the Monroe County Public Library. It takes place on the last Sunday of every month from 1pm-3pm. Mobility aid donations are also accepted.

Fresh Fridays with Hoosier Hills Food Bank

Are You Someone with Mild-Moderate Intellectual Disability (ID) or Do You Support Someone With Mild-Moderate ID?

A University of Florida study is looking for young adults with intellectual disabilities ages 18 to 22 to help improve the Vocational Fit Assessment Tool. Young adults will also invite a person who has been part of their life, such as a teacher, parent, job coach, or employer to provide background and work training and history for the young adult.

This study involves meeting either in person or online for a series of three interviews over two years. See if you’re a good fit for the study. At the end of each interview, each participant should expect to receive $40, up to $120 total.

For more information about the study, check out this link, or contact the team at (352) 273-9365 or yell@phhp.ufl.edu.

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