Careful attention to the environmental stresses of a specific setting is necessary. Consider the student’s responses to the Environmental Assessment, and also consider the student’s behavior that you see in classroom and school environments as well. Your evaluation of these factors can often enhance the success of a volunteer experience, a summer or part-time job or a job training placement.
- Heavy lifting and physical activity can be beneficial in reducing anxiety and frustration. Will movement and activity improve the well-being of this individual?
- Does the open space make the individual feel more comfortable?Can the student handle tight spaces (crawl spaces, attics, under a car, etc.)? For many, working in open environments can become a preference once they experience such settings on a routine basis.
- Will the student develop acceptance of odors, noise, and dirt as a result of repeated performance, or are these sensory factors intolerable? Odors, sounds, dust, vibrations and a host of sensory stimuli are frequently present in either automotive operations or in any branch of construction. Will the student be able to focus with the stimulation that will surround him in a specific environment? Will these stimuli cause annoyance or even physical discomfort? Will the student use eye and ear protection? Note that the predictability of the sound may prove acceptable to some students even if they have difficulty with noise in other settings.
- How does the student react to wearing clothing that is expected in these environments and to potentially getting very dirty and sweaty?
Look at the general sequence of tasks in the project or job setting. Look at the distances traveled in transitions and the spaces through which transitions occur. Are there distractions? Are materials and space well organized? Sometimes negotiating a different sequence of tasks or minor adjustments to the space and materials will be quite acceptable to the supervisor if she knows that these adjustments will lead to better work quality.
Will the student flourish in an environment where he has several different daily tasks between which he can move (i.e., data entry on customer records, scanning shelves, processing merchandise and preparing for storefront display)? Retail positions can be an excellent option for many as a ‘first job,’ a seasonal job, part-time employment or volunteer work because of the factors noted above. On the other hand, avoid temporary worker positions since these workers have to adapt to multiple environments, a vast variety of jobs and varying job conditions.
Self-Assessment – Career Planning – Environmental Assessment