Competency Area 10: Administrative Skills

List of Competencies

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

• 10.1 Ability to complete referrals and service summaries using common reporting formats and requirements
• 10.2 Written and verbal communication skills
• 10.3 Time management skills
• 10.4 Strong interpersonal skills/ability to work within a team
• 10.5D Ability to complete disability-specific referrals and service summaries, such as IEP, transition plan, IPE, and individualized work plan (IWP)

10.1 Ability to complete referrals and service summaries using common reporting formats and requirements

Learning Objectives

• 10.1.1 Complete appropriate referrals and service summaries using common reporting formats and requirements

Selected Activities

• Research or locate referral and service forms used by organizations that provide services youth need but cannot access at your organization

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Complete the forms using real (but anonymous) or fictitious records
• Design an "ideal" referral form and share with one partner organization for their feedback

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• Blending and Braiding Funds and Resources: The Intermediary as Facilitator. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 18 (2006).
• Disability Inquiries in the Workforce Development System. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 9 (2004).
• How Young People Can Benefit from One-Stop Centers. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 3 (2002).
• IDEA Revised. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 10 (2004).
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2005). The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
• Making the Connections: Growing and Supporting New Organizations: Intermediaries. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 8 (2004).
• 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).
• Negotiating the Curves Toward Employment: A Guide About Youth Involved in the Foster Care System. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2008).
• Serving Youth with Disabilities Under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998: The Basics. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 4 (2003).
• Timmons, J., Podmostko, M., Bremer, C., Lavin, D., and Wills, J. (2004). Career Planning Begins with Assessment: A Guide for Professionals Serving Youth with Educational and Career Development Challenges. Washington, D.C.: National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, Institute for Educational Leadership.

Other Resources

• Logsdon, Ann (n.d.) How to Refer A Child for Special Education Testing and Assessment.
• Mind Tools Ltd. (n.d.). Information Skills.

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10.2 Written and verbal communication skills

Learning Objectives

• 10.2.1 Model effective written and verbal communication skills

Selected Activities

• Prepare a whitepaper on a topic of interest
• Prepare an oral presentation on a topic of interest
  (Note: Participants could be told that they will not be given separate writing and speaking assignments for this competency but will be evaluated on all the writing and speaking assignments they are given over the duration of the course)

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Give the presentation to your peers
• Provide feedback on a peer's whitepaper; then have the peer comment on yours and make improvements based on feedback

Other Resources

• Fowler, K. & Manktelow, J. (n.d.). Improve Your Communication Skills.
• Heathfield, Susan M. Effective Organizational and Interpersonal Communication (n.d.)
• Heathfield, Susan M. How to Hold a Difficult Conversation (n.d.)
• Heathfield, Susan M. How to Receive Feedback with Grace and Dignity (n.d.)
• Institute for Management Excellence (1997). Improving Verbal Skills In Online Newsletter.

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10.3 Time management skills

Learning Objectives

• 10.3.1 Model effective time management skills

Selected Activities

• Examine the use of calendars, to do lists, the “one touch” technique, and other print tools
• Examine potential time management tools such as Microsoft Project and PDAs
• Try one new time management technique for a week; reflect on whether or not it worked for you

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Create a schedule for your next week's activities; after the week, examine how closely your actual work mirrored your schedule
  (Note: Assignments and activities that are completed on time may demonstrate this competency)

Other Resources

• Mind Tools Ltd. (n.d.). Time Management Skills.
• Peter Wildblood Enterprises Australia (n.d.). Effective Time Management: Personal Planning and Organization.
• Time Tips, Pace Productivity (n.d.)
• Ward, Susan (n.d.) Time Management

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10.4 Strong interpersonal skills/ability to work within a team

Learning Objectives

• 10.4.1 Model strong interpersonal skills/ability to work within a team

Selected Activities

• Take the Jung Typology Test
• Practice administering a number of carefully selected assessments

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Discuss your strengths and weaknesses as applied to working within a team
  (Note: Some assignments for the course should also be team assignments, which can be used to demonstrate learning for this competency. )

Other Resources

• Heathfield, Susan M. Working Successfully with People (n.d.)
• Heathfield, Susan M. How to Manage Meetings and Team Building (n.d.)
• Robinson, D. Keith (n.d.). Dealing With Creative Conflict Within a Team.

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10.5.D Ability to complete disability-specific referrals and service summaries, such as IEP, transition plan, IPE, and individualized work plan (IWP)

Learning Objectives

• 10.5.D.1 Complete appropriate disability-specific referrals and service summaries, such as IEP, transition plan, IPE, and individualized work plan (IWP)

Selected Activities

• Read Developing your IPE and Developing an IEP and Smart IEPs - Adobe PDF Smart IEPs - Microsoft Word.

Demonstration of Learning - Show What You Know!

• Create an IEP based on existing students or case study

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

• Disability Inquiries in the Workforce Development System. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 9 (2004).
• IDEA Revised. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 10 (2004).
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2004). Benefits Planning for Youth with Disabilities
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2005). The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, Work-Based Learning Jump Start - Youth Service Professional Section.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, IDEA: Special Edition Law Revised (2004).
• 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).
• Serving Youth with Disabilities Under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998: The Basics. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth InfoBrief, Volume 4 (2003).
• 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).

Other Resources

• University of Toronto at Scarborough (n.d.). AccessAbility Services.
• U.S. Department of Education (July 2000). A Guide to the Individualized Education Program.
• National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities (2002). Pop-up IEP.
• Special Ed Forms Criteria for Developing IEP Goals.
• Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, TILES Projects (n.d.). Developing the Individualized Plan for Employment.
• New York State Education Department (n.d.). Developing your Individualized Plan for Employment.

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