SUPERMARKET CAREERS PROGRAM
- Project Title:
- Supermarket Careers Program
- Contact Person:
- Teri Carty, Program Coordinator
- Mailing Address:
- Rolla Area Vocational Technical School
1304 East 10th Street
Rolla, MO 65401
- Telephone #:
- 314-364-3726
- Fax #:
- 314-364-0767
- Project Purpose:
- The Supermarket Careers program was designed to demonstrate that students and adults with disabilities can be successfully trained and employed in the supermarket industry and related retail operations. The purpose of this project is to increase participants' employment prospects through necessary supermarket career and related retail operation skills. Competencies are mastered during the course of study, training, and supervised work experiences. In addition, participants work on improving their levels of self-esteem, work-related social skills, on-time behaviors, and pre-employment skills.
- General Program Overview:
- The Supermarket program includes the set-up of an operating mini-mart where students develop skills relating to all facets of the supermarket industry. The students receive ongoing experiences that prepare them for the world of work. Specialized classroom training and a partnership with the supermarket industry enable students to develop confidence via the process of becoming successful employees.
- Unique Program Components:
- Assessment of individual vocational interests and abilities: The following assessment instruments are utilized: (a) Talent Assessment Program, (b) Vocational Implications of Personality, (c) Pictorial Inventory of Careers, and (d) Street Survival Skills Questionnaire. Results are used to develop appropriate student transition plans.
- Parental/family involvement and support: Activities are designed to meet student and family needs by offering a variety of support services. Parents provide insight to supermarket training staff and employers.
- Community integration: The students are involved in community tours and specialized training sessions within each supermarket department.
- Employer recruitment: Employer recruitment is becoming necessary due to the increasing number of interested students. The program shows an increased rate of successful job placements and the positive effects of integrating students into the community.
- Employer/employee training: Awareness and understanding of disability is promoted through educating the employer and staff. Effective techniques and strategies are explained and demonstrated at monthly meetings.
- Taxonomy Practices Identified:
- Student Development
- Employment skills instruction
- Career & vocational curricula
- Structured work experience
- Vocational assessment
- Accommodations & support
- Student-Focused Planning
- Student participation
- Accommodation & planning strategies
- Interagency Collaboration
- Organization-level planning
- Human resource development
- Family Involvement
- Targeted Outcomes:
- Increased self-esteem
- Increased understanding and knowledge of how to obtain and keep a job
- Increased employability skills
- Increased employment rates
- Increased maintenance of employment
- Increased employer awareness and appreciation of individuals with disabilities
- Increased employee and employer satisfaction
- Increased family involvement
- Increased participation in community
- Evaluation Description:
- Formative: Evaluation instruments and checklists used to assess student progress and outcomes include (a) pre- and post-Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, (b) pre- and post-informal student observation and teacher assessment of student work-related social skills, (c) weekly monitoring of student time cards and attendance, (d) advisory council and employer preemployment skills checklists on student progress, and (e) adapted Cornell University checklist of supermarket competencies.
- Summative: Follow-up study of graduates and nongraduates includes the following: (a) data summaries of the program objectives are completed by the program coordinator, (b) data summaries of the job evaluations are completed by the supermarket supervisors after the four-week internship, and (c) data summaries are collected from each student entering and exiting the program. All information is documented and disseminated to cooperating school superintendents, principals, counselors, special education teachers, and participating supermarkets.
- Evaluation Findings:
- Fifty-five percent of student graduates have maintained employment over the past five years.
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