Whistle While You Work
By Goss, Anthony; Closing the Gap, Vol. 26, No. 5Publication Date: December/January 2008
Article offers a step-by-step approach for educators to bring special-needs students to vocational independence. Emphasis is on readying students with developmental and/or physical limitations for employment in office, custodial/maintenance, food service, and retail settings. The approach begins with a human job coach who is physically present to assist. Second, music and assistive technology serve as the job coach while the human coach is faded. Third, portable work systems such as photographs, picture symbols, and PDAs serve as the coach. Fourth, students act independently. Rhythmic music, generated by singing, electric keyboards or CDs, is integrated into the process to add structure and focus. Examples are given of tasks such as sorting, filing and stamping being taught using computer-generated visual cues, and verbal cues sung to familiar tunes.
Published by: Closing the Gap, Inc. (Website:http://www.closingthegap.com)
