Competency Area 2: Communication with Youth

List of Competencies

Note: The letter "D" indicates a competency specific to youth with disabilities

• 2.1 Respect and caring for all youth, including the ability to be open minded and nonjudgmental, develop trusting relationships, and maintain awareness of diversity and youth culture
• 2.2 Ability to recognize and address need for intervention (e.g. drug or alcohol abuse, domestic abuse or violence, and depression)
• 2.3 Ability to advocate for, motivate, recruit, and engage youth
• 2.4D Knowledge of issues and trends affecting youth with disabilities (e.g. low expectations, attitudinal or environmental barriers, need for social integration)
• 2.5D Understanding of disability awareness, sensitivity, and culture
• 2.6D Understanding of how to communicate with youth with various physical, sensory, psychiatric, and cognitive disabilities

2.1 Respect and caring for all youth, including the ability to be open minded and nonjudgmental, develop trusting relationships, and maintain awareness of diversity and youth culture

Learning Objectives

• 2.1 Explore, identify, and describe your personal bias and awareness related to youth diversity, cultural, and gender issues

Selected Activities

• Take the US Immigration and Cultural Diversity WebQuest
• Take the Cultural Web Scavenger Hunt

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Successful completion of case study scenarios

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• Halperin, S. (1998). The Forgotten Half Revisited: American Youth and Young Families, 1988-2008.
• Hare, R. Plotting the Course for Success: An Individualized Mentoring Plan for Youth with Disabilities. National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Five Areas of Youth Development/Youth Leadership. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth Jump Start – Youth Leadership and Development.
• The Pacer Center’s Project Swift. (2004). Building Program Capacity to Serve Youth with Disabilities – Working with Family, Culture, and Disability.
• Timmons, J., Mack, M., Sims, A., Hare, R., & Wills, J. (2006) Paving the Way to Work: A Guide to Career-Focused Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.

Other Resources

• Closkey, M. (n.d.). A WWW Scavenger Hunt for ESOL Educators Focus on Culture.
• Educational Simulations (n.d.).
• University of Maryland Diversity Database "Moving Towards Community" (n.d.).
• Sidorov, S. (n.d.). US Immigration and Cultural Diversity.
• University of Maryland (n.d.). ICONS Project.

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2.2 Ability to recognize and address need for intervention (e.g. drug or alcohol abuse, domestic abuse or violence, and depression)

Learning Objectives

• 2.2.1 Describe several reasons for enacting youth intervention strategies for related issues such as drug or alcohol abuse, domestic abuse or violence, and depression
• 2.2.2 List steps involved in carrying out your recommended intervention process for related issues such as drug or alcohol abuse, domestic abuse or violence, and depression
• 2.2.3 List valuable resources for effective intervention strategies

Selected Activities

• Develop a behavioral warning signs checklist
• Develop a resource list including local, state, and national resources
• Explore Online Assessments

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Develop and maintain an updated resource list related to intervention resources for the various issues including local, state, and national resources
• Successful completion of case study

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• Making the Right Turn: A Guide About Improving Transition Outcomes for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Corrections Systems. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Navigating Tunnels and Cliffs: Empowering Families and Caregivers to Assist Youth with Mental Health Needs in Preparing for Work. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth Short Cuts, No. 5 (2008).
• Podmostko, M. Tunnels and Cliffs: A Guide for Workforce Development Practitioners and Policymakers serving Youth with Mental Health Needs. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2007).
• Woosley, L., and Katz-Leavy, J. Transitioning Youth with Mental Health Needs to Meaningful Employment and Independent Living. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Mental Health Guideposts for Success. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Juvenile Justice Guideposts for Success. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2008).

Other Resources

• Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (n.d.).
• DrugNet (n.d.). Assessment Index.
• Drug Rehabs. (n.d.).
• Guidance Channel Ezine (2005).
• Iowa Child Abuse Resource (n.d.). Child Abuse: A Guide for Mandatory Reporters.
• Kantor, G. and Jasinski, J. (1998). Dynamics and Risk Factors in Partner Violence: Chapter Summary.
• Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free (n.d.).
• National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center Website (NVAWPRC) (n.d.).
• Pierce College Chemical Dependency Studies Program (n.d.). Mandatory Reporting Law.
• Safety First: A Reality Based Approach to Teens and Drugs.
• U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice (2003). Batterer Intervention Programs: Where Do We Go From Here?.
• West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV) (n.d.).

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2.3 Ability to advocate for, motivate, recruit, and engage youth

Learning Objectives

• 2.3.1 List and describe successful strategies to help advocate for youth
• 2.3.2 List and describe successful strategies to help motivate youth
• 2.3.3 List and describe successful strategies to help recruit youth
• 2.3.4 List and describe successful strategies to help engage youth

Selected Activities

• Take the NCDW/Youth tutorial
• Explore several youth advocacy strategies and programs, and then list the advantages/disadvantages of these programs as they apply to your organizational needs

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Prepare a matrix that describes program possibilities for your organization which would address ideas to help advocate for, motivate, recruit and/or engage youth

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• Am I Learning to Lead? . National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Are They Learning to Lead? . National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Hare, R. A Guide to Legislative Advocacy for Youth with Disabilities. National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Hare, R. Plotting the Course for Success: An Individualized Mentoring Plan for Youth with Disabilities. National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Hare, R., & Richards, C. (2007). Blazing the Trail: A New Direction for Youth Development and Youth Leadership. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2005). Info Brief Issue 11: Youth Development and Leadership in Programs.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disabilty for Youth. (n.d.). Preparatory Experiences — Youth and Family Section.
• National Youth Employment Coalition. (n.d.). PEPNet Online Index to Quality Practices, standards 2.1 (recruiting), 2.7 (youth engagement), and 3.1-3.5 (youth development competencies).
• Youth Development & Youth Leadership in Programs. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 11 (2005).

Other Resources

• Independence First. (n.d.). Advocacy Tools.
• National Youth Advocacy Coalition (n.d.).
• Watkins, C. (2004). Helping Your Child Succeed at School: Parent as Coach, Advocate and Partner.
• Youth Advocacy Center, Inc.(2002). Rights and Advocacy Guidelines.
• Youth Advocacy Center, Inc. (n.d.). Becoming a self advocate.

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2.4.D Knowledge of issues and trends affecting youth with disabilities (e.g. low expectations, attitudinal or environmental barriers, need for social integration)

Learning Objectives

• 2.4.D List and describe issues and trends that affect youth with disabilities as it applies to your organization

Selected Activities

• Research what disabilities issues and trends that particularly affect your community or region

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Prepare a matrix that describes program possibilities for your organization including ideas to help address issues/barriers and current trends affecting youth with disabilities

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• Hare, R., & Richards, C. (2007). Blazing the Trail: A New Direction for Youth Development and Youth Leadership. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.
• National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) (n.d.). NCSET Topics.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2004). Hidden Disabilities
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Attitudinal Barriers for People with Disabilities.
• National Council on Disability (2000). Transition and Post-School Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities: Closing the Gaps to Post-Secondary Education and Employment.
• The Pacer Center’s Project Swift. (2004). Building Program Capacity to Serve Youth with Disabilities – Juvenile Justice and Youth with Disabilities.

Other Resources

• Child Trends (n.d.). What Works for Child and Youth Development ToolKit.
• Education Resource Organizations Directory (EROD) (n.d.).

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2.5.D Understanding of disability awareness, sensitivity, and culture

Learning Objectives

• 2.5.D Explore, list, and describe your personal bias and understanding related to youth disability awareness, sensitivity, and culture

Selected Activities

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Review a videotape of yourself or employers presenting an educational or interpretive program, and make note of any bias you notice. For each type of bias you identify, write a statement on the potential impact of that bias on the individual, and develop an alternative teaching strategy to mitigate the bias

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• Disability History Timeline: Resource and Discussion Guide. National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (2007).
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Attitudinal Barriers for People with Disabilities.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Communicating With and About People with Disabilities.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Disability Etiquette.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Hidden Disabilities - Microsoft Word.
• The Pacer Center’s Project Swift. (2004). Building Program Capacity to Serve Youth with Disabilities – Disability Awareness: The Basics.

Other Resources

• Guidance Channel Ezine (2005) Top Ten Disability Bias Websites.
• National Park Service (n.d.). Interpretive Development Plan.

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2.6.D Understanding of how to communicate with youth with various physical, sensory, psychiatric, and cognitive disabilities

Learning Objectives

• 2.6.D.1 List and describe a variety of ways to increase communication with youth with various physical, sensory, psychiatric, and cognitive disabilities

Selected Activities

• Engage in ReCAPP's Learning Activities

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Develop a guide for communicating with youth with various activities; train colleagues

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Attitudinal Barriers for People with Disabilities.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Communicating With and About People with Disabilities.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Disability Etiquette.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (n.d.). Hidden Disabilities - Microsoft Word.

Other Resources

• Association of Science-Technology Center (n.d.). Becoming Familiar with Various Disabilities.
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (n.d.). Searchable Online Accommodation Resource.
• Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. (ReCAPP ) (n.d.). Listening Skills.
• VSA Arts (n.d.). Disability Awareness Guide.

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