WEBVTT 00:00:23.076 --> 00:00:26.385 So which one should we out the loofah in? 00:00:26.386 --> 00:00:28.355 Do you want to use all of them? 00:00:28.356 --> 00:00:29.505 Yeah. 00:00:29.506 --> 00:00:31.525 Veronika and Lacey are business partners. 00:00:31.526 --> 00:00:33.535 They're making soap. 00:00:33.536 --> 00:00:36.325 I've always really liked herbs, and I've always really 00:00:36.326 --> 00:00:40.105 wanted to make my own soap and sell it at the Fremont Market. 00:00:40.106 --> 00:00:47.635 I learned how to run a business. 00:00:47.636 --> 00:00:54.415 I also learned how to make soaps. 00:00:54.416 --> 00:00:59.135 The business began as Veronika's senior project in high School. 00:00:59.136 --> 00:01:03.275 She had big ideas, and she turned to her mom, Debbie, for help. 00:01:03.276 --> 00:01:05.555 When Veronika and I started talking about it, 00:01:05.556 --> 00:01:07.235 it was just so exciting. 00:01:07.236 --> 00:01:10.595 And at that point, I just said to her, go with it, 00:01:10.596 --> 00:01:15.225 and whatever money you need, just, I'll take care of it. 00:01:15.226 --> 00:01:19.085 It wasn't a large amount; just $500 to get started. 00:01:19.086 --> 00:01:22.805 But there were other ways of helping that were just as important as the money. 00:01:22.806 --> 00:01:25.945 She's self-employed herself, so she was really able to 00:01:25.946 --> 00:01:27.775 help me and Lacey. 00:01:27.776 --> 00:01:31.275 She gave me ideas how to find resources, 00:01:31.276 --> 00:01:35.195 and she was really helpful and very very supportive. 00:01:35.196 --> 00:01:38.475 Debbie felt that it was essential not to overwhelm her 00:01:38.476 --> 00:01:40.535 daughter with too much advice. 00:01:40.536 --> 00:01:44.025 I tried just to discuss with her her ideas. 00:01:44.026 --> 00:01:47.655 I think hat, to keep track, that's a smart way to go. 00:01:47.656 --> 00:01:50.485 she wanted to cover so many areas, and I knew it 00:01:50.486 --> 00:01:53.475 probably wasn't possible to cover as much as she wanted in a short 00:01:53.476 --> 00:01:59.745 period of time, but I just listened, and then as she started to tackle 00:01:59.746 --> 00:02:04.245 parts of the project, she discovered on her own that by the time she 00:02:04.246 --> 00:02:09.025 got done with adapting equipment so Lacey could be a true partner. 00:02:09.026 --> 00:02:12.225 She came to the conclusion that this would be a business 00:02:12.226 --> 00:02:15.745 that would evolve over time. 00:02:15.746 --> 00:02:18.595 Veronika and Lacey learned about each other's strengths 00:02:18.596 --> 00:02:20.025 ...and their own. 00:02:20.026 --> 00:02:21.365 Does that smell good? 00:02:21.366 --> 00:02:22.055 Yeah. 00:02:22.056 --> 00:02:26.015 I already knew a lot of the recipes, and Lacey would 00:02:26.016 --> 00:02:28.505 say, you know, well, I don't really like this recipe, it doesn't 00:02:28.506 --> 00:02:31.385 smell right; or, you know, I really like this one, I think we should 00:02:31.386 --> 00:02:34.975 sell this one; and then we would get together and figure out, 00:02:34.976 --> 00:02:37.975 okay, now how are we going to make them? 00:02:37.976 --> 00:02:43.095 I showed her e-mail. 00:02:43.096 --> 00:02:54.675 And I showed her how to make business cards. 00:02:54.676 --> 00:02:56.975 They're both having fun, learning business skills, 00:02:56.976 --> 00:02:58.905 and making some money. 00:02:58.906 --> 00:03:01.725 It's also a step on their career paths. 00:03:01.726 --> 00:03:05.025 My dream is to become an occupational therapist, and I'm 00:03:05.026 --> 00:03:10.775 really interested in homeopathic, like natural healing, so I plan to 00:03:10.776 --> 00:03:15.625 use this business and my occupational skills, when I'm older, 00:03:15.626 --> 00:03:19.615 to combine, you know, my knowledge as a physical therapist 00:03:19.616 --> 00:03:23.515 in order to adapt the production of soap. 00:03:23.516 --> 00:03:27.165 00:03:27.166 --> 00:03:29.755 For every high school student, it's time to start 00:03:29.756 --> 00:03:30.945 planning the future. 00:03:30.946 --> 00:03:33.185 Parents, educators, and mentors 00:03:33.186 --> 00:03:34.715 can support this process. 00:03:34.716 --> 00:03:36.125 And looking toward a career 00:03:36.126 --> 00:03:38.825 can motivate students to succeed in school. 00:03:38.826 --> 00:03:41.855 The more that they can think ahead about what goals 00:03:41.856 --> 00:03:44.645 they have for themselves and what direction they want to go, 00:03:44.646 --> 00:03:47.035 the more relevant school can be for them. 00:03:47.036 --> 00:03:50.005 Once a teenager begins to focus on particular interests, 00:03:50.006 --> 00:03:53.085 it's good to encourage work-based learning opportunities. 00:03:53.086 --> 00:03:54.685 Work-based learning is important to students in high 00:03:54.686 --> 00:03:57.145 school, especially students with learning disabilities or any type 00:03:57.146 --> 00:04:00.505 of disability, because it gives them an edge over the competition. 00:04:00.506 --> 00:04:03.335 They've gone into a workplace, they've been there, 00:04:03.336 --> 00:04:06.905 they start learning workplace etiquette, they also learn 00:04:06.906 --> 00:04:08.795 on-the-job skills, which are essential. 00:04:08.796 --> 00:04:09.415 Those are things that 00:04:09.416 --> 00:04:11.875 you can't be taught in school or learn in college. 00:04:11.876 --> 00:04:12.525 You get that 00:04:12.526 --> 00:04:15.195 experience behind you, you're able to start building a resume, 00:04:15.196 --> 00:04:18.235 and it helps those students be more marketable on the job market. 00:04:18.236 --> 00:04:21.125 Many schools have career centers to help students 00:04:21.126 --> 00:04:24.905 find internships, part-time jobs, or other opportunities like job 00:04:24.906 --> 00:04:27.455 shadowing or informational interviews. 00:04:27.456 --> 00:04:28.365 If there's no career 00:04:28.366 --> 00:04:31.135 center, the guidance or counseling office can help in this 00:04:31.136 --> 00:04:32.575 career exploration. 00:04:32.576 --> 00:04:37.405 The career counselors are an integral link from academics 00:04:37.406 --> 00:04:38.665 to the world of work. 00:04:38.666 --> 00:04:40.375 They're the ones that have the information; 00:04:40.376 --> 00:04:43.845 they're the ones that we as companies feed to to try to draw 00:04:43.846 --> 00:04:46.065 students into these type internships. 00:04:46.066 --> 00:04:47.605 There are a lot of opportunities 00:04:47.606 --> 00:04:50.315 out there; it's just being able to communicate that activity. 00:04:50.316 --> 00:04:53.245 The Internet offers resources and interactive 00:04:53.246 --> 00:04:55.215 activities to explore careers. 00:04:55.216 --> 00:04:59.585 Us blind people, we use it a lot; and it's good for surfing 00:04:59.586 --> 00:05:04.195 the Web, doing e-mail, or doing your reports. 00:05:04.196 --> 00:05:07.865 And technology provides access for students with disabilities, 00:05:07.866 --> 00:05:09.935 both at home and in the workplace. 00:05:09.936 --> 00:05:11.435 Ryan, for example, 00:05:11.436 --> 00:05:13.795 uses software that reads the screen to him. 00:05:13.796 --> 00:05:16.785 I can go into a Word document, I can start typing; 00:05:16.786 --> 00:05:19.265 it will speak the character as I'm typing it. 00:05:19.266 --> 00:05:20.665 W..i..n..d..o..w..s.. 00:05:20.666 --> 00:05:21.415 period. 00:05:21.416 --> 00:05:25.845 I can also have it read to me exactly what I've typed, 00:05:25.846 --> 00:05:30.595 so I can know if I've made any spelling mistakes with it. 00:05:30.596 --> 00:05:32.815 For high school students, parents have a role 00:05:32.816 --> 00:05:35.135 in the work-based learning process as well. 00:05:35.136 --> 00:05:38.865 Whether it be for jobs, job shadowing, internships, 00:05:38.866 --> 00:05:42.355 they have to sign a release that they know their student's doing 00:05:42.356 --> 00:05:45.735 it; that they approve and support them doing it; and their parents 00:05:45.736 --> 00:05:48.365 agree to be part of that, support their student, make sure that 00:05:48.366 --> 00:05:51.295 they're getting their homework done still, but support them 00:05:51.296 --> 00:05:54.435 in that position of getting those experiences. 00:05:54.436 --> 00:05:57.085 I think that some paid work experience is good for a 00:05:57.086 --> 00:05:58.195 person in high school. 00:05:58.196 --> 00:05:59.935 You still want to enjoy high school, 00:05:59.936 --> 00:06:03.095 because that's your opportunity to have fun before you hit the 00:06:03.096 --> 00:06:06.055 college and the work life; but a little work doesn't hurt. 00:06:06.056 --> 00:06:08.795 Research indicates that students who work part-time 00:06:08.796 --> 00:06:11.155 actually do better in school. 00:06:11.156 --> 00:06:12.715 Stuart has to plan time for his 00:06:12.716 --> 00:06:15.885 class schedule, his commute, and his homework. 00:06:15.886 --> 00:06:17.935 It's made him quite efficient. 00:06:17.936 --> 00:06:19.905 If the student feels very comfortable that his homework 00:06:19.906 --> 00:06:24.315 can be done in three hours, I think a job after school would 00:06:24.316 --> 00:06:29.055 be very nice, I think you can have money coming from somewhere, 00:06:29.056 --> 00:06:33.375 and go to school at the same time. 00:06:33.376 --> 00:06:36.465 Patrick spent his summer building computers at the Easter 00:06:36.466 --> 00:06:38.235 Seals office in Spokane. 00:06:38.236 --> 00:06:40.375 He learned a lot about problem solving. 00:06:40.376 --> 00:06:45.335 It was very valuable, and like to me, it's just like, now that 00:06:45.336 --> 00:06:47.985 I've done that, and had that experience, if I come to a problem 00:06:47.986 --> 00:06:52.265 in life, into a wall, I can just back up like I did at work, you know, 00:06:52.266 --> 00:06:56.835 and refigure it out and then take either the right path or the path 00:06:56.836 --> 00:06:59.525 that's going to get me out of the dead end, you know. 00:06:59.526 --> 00:07:01.725 Patrick's mom was a resource for him. 00:07:01.726 --> 00:07:05.105 she answered his questions on how to make a good impression at work 00:07:05.106 --> 00:07:06.935 and how businesses operate. 00:07:06.936 --> 00:07:08.515 They also talked about his learning 00:07:08.516 --> 00:07:11.235 disability, and what that might mean on the job. 00:07:11.236 --> 00:07:14.425 I have two children, one has a disability and one 00:07:14.426 --> 00:07:17.815 doesn't, and you know, we've had these similar conversations. 00:07:17.816 --> 00:07:21.775 'Cause going to work is an unusual experience for all of us. 00:07:21.776 --> 00:07:24.525 I've been in the work world for a long period of time, but as I 00:07:24.526 --> 00:07:28.825 transitioned into new jobs I've had that same kind of scary 00:07:28.826 --> 00:07:32.925 feeling, like am I going to do it all right, am I going to be successful? 00:07:32.926 --> 00:07:36.865 So with a child with a disability, depending on that disability, time 00:07:36.866 --> 00:07:38.855 management might be an issue. 00:07:38.856 --> 00:07:41.345 With Pat, time management is an issue. 00:07:41.346 --> 00:07:44.845 So having an 8-hour day was somewhat of a struggle. 00:07:44.846 --> 00:07:46.895 As students prepare for a job search, parents can play 00:07:46.896 --> 00:07:48.225 a valuable support role. 00:07:48.226 --> 00:07:49.535 Especially in the areas of 00:07:49.536 --> 00:07:52.515 practicing interviewing, doing mock interviews, role playing. 00:07:52.516 --> 00:07:55.425 Students need to get comfortable in talking about their disability 00:07:55.426 --> 00:07:57.815 with an employer and, at the same time, emphasizing their 00:07:57.816 --> 00:08:00.574 strengths and their skills and abilities. 00:08:00.576 --> 00:08:01.615 Students also have to 00:08:01.616 --> 00:08:04.025 have a good resume to present to employers. 00:08:04.026 --> 00:08:07.225 sometimes the issue with that is, many students may not have a whole lot of 00:08:07.226 --> 00:08:09.805 work experience in their life so far, and therefore, what are you 00:08:09.806 --> 00:08:10.865 going to put on that resume? 00:08:10.866 --> 00:08:12.125 This is where the parents can 00:08:12.126 --> 00:08:15.265 become involved and help them identify some of their strengths, 00:08:15.266 --> 00:08:18.775 skills, experiences from home that they can actually put on this 00:08:18.776 --> 00:08:21.115 resume to present to employers. 00:08:21.116 --> 00:08:23.215 00:08:23.216 --> 00:08:25.705 Some job skills can be practiced at home. 00:08:25.706 --> 00:08:28.425 Susanna and her mom have an agreement. 00:08:28.426 --> 00:08:30.675 I make all the phone calls. 00:08:30.676 --> 00:08:33.275 Ever since she's been a little girl, she's been able to sit 00:08:33.276 --> 00:08:37.515 down and pick up the phone and talk and so very early on she 00:08:37.516 --> 00:08:41.375 started making her therapy appointments, and then her doctor 00:08:41.376 --> 00:08:44.465 appointments, and then she started remembering all the things that 00:08:44.466 --> 00:08:48.255 Mom was forgetting to do, and call; so she has become my 00:08:48.256 --> 00:08:52.785 personal secretary, and thank God, she is the most organized person. 00:08:52.786 --> 00:08:53.665 Okay. 00:08:53.666 --> 00:08:58.645 Mom should be giving me $5 each phone call. 00:08:58.646 --> 00:08:59.695 No. 00:08:59.696 --> 00:09:03.415 if she did that, I would be too rich. 00:09:05.056 --> 00:09:07.585 Transportation is a way that parents, and possibly 00:09:07.586 --> 00:09:09.295 mentors, can help. 00:09:09.296 --> 00:09:11.855 Ali had a summer internship at Boeing, which was a 00:09:11.856 --> 00:09:13.935 great opportunity for him. 00:09:13.936 --> 00:09:15.715 But it would have taken three buses 00:09:15.716 --> 00:09:19.865 each way, and that would have used enormous amounts of his time. 00:09:19.866 --> 00:09:24.925 I talked to my dad and he said Yeah, I'll help you; we'll 00:09:24.926 --> 00:09:26.545 help you however we can. 00:09:26.546 --> 00:09:28.005 Yeah, and he took me there in the 00:09:28.006 --> 00:09:33.135 morning and he come pick me up home. 00:09:33.136 --> 00:09:36.075 The Boeing internship was a perfect fit with Ali's interest 00:09:36.076 --> 00:09:37.365 in engineering. 00:09:37.366 --> 00:09:39.695 And at the same time, his parents helped him 00:09:39.696 --> 00:09:41.455 learn about independence. 00:09:41.456 --> 00:09:44.935 It was a first for the whole family. 00:09:44.936 --> 00:09:49.055 What amazed me is that my parents, you know, never, you 00:09:49.056 --> 00:09:52.235 know, let me go away from them, they always were watching me. 00:09:52.236 --> 00:09:56.645 But the first day I went to the internship, I told my dad to, you 00:09:56.646 --> 00:09:59.135 know, just drop me there and come home. 00:09:59.136 --> 00:09:59.925 And I didn't believe 00:09:59.926 --> 00:10:01.025 he was going to do that. 00:10:01.026 --> 00:10:02.925 But he exactly did that. 00:10:02.926 --> 00:10:03.905 And I said, 00:10:03.906 --> 00:10:06.934 oh, dad, you went really quickly, you should have stayed longer, 00:10:06.936 --> 00:10:08.755 but I didn't say that to him. 00:10:08.756 --> 00:10:10.545 You know, I was a little bit worried by 00:10:10.546 --> 00:10:13.595 myself here and what to do, but then I went on, you know, 00:10:13.596 --> 00:10:18.015 and I got used to it. 00:10:18.016 --> 00:10:19.415 00:10:19.416 --> 00:10:22.155 Planning the future is a challenging process. 00:10:22.156 --> 00:10:25.365 if you'd like a road map to help guide teenagers through it, 00:10:25.366 --> 00:10:28.315 you can use the CAREERS acronym developed by the DO-IT program 00:10:28.316 --> 00:10:30.875 at the University of Washington. 00:11:24.396 --> 00:11:26.915 And remember, you'll be learning something, too. 00:11:26.916 --> 00:11:30.005 She's the greatest kid on Earth; she's taught me everything 00:11:30.006 --> 00:11:32.365 there is about life, she really has. 00:11:32.366 --> 00:11:33.445 Everything that's important 00:11:33.446 --> 00:11:36.695 I've learned from Susanna. 00:11:36.696 --> 00:11:37.915 come on, Shep. 00:11:37.916 --> 00:11:40.000 Good boy, yes, good boy.