AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIGNITY THROUGH WORK. AN OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING CENTER FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED. FINAL PROJECT REPORT, APRIL 1963-MAY 1966.

TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUNG MENTALLY RETARDED ADULTS FOR VOCATIONAL SERVICES, THE KENNEDY JOB TRAINING CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE DAY AND RESIDENTIAL KENNEDY SCHOOL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN. THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO PREPARE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS FOR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO UTILIZE AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESOURCES. A SHELTERED WORKSHOP PROGRAM INCLUDING COUNSELING AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES WAS ESTABLISHED. THE WORKSHOP SERVED KENNEDY SCHOOL STUDENTS, TRAINEES FROM THE ILLINOIS DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, AND LONG-TERM TRAINEES. ACCEPTED PERSONS WERE INVOLVED IN A DIAGNOSTIC PERIOD, THEN A TRAINING PERIOD, AND FINALLY THE JOB PLACEMENT PROCESS. TRAINEES WORKED ON SUBCONTRACT JOBS, A CANDLE MANUFACTURING PROJECT, AND TASKS CONNECTED WITH THE KENNEDY SCHOOL. INCLUDED WERE RELEVANT DATA AND DISCUSSION ON PROBLEMS OF ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING A SHELTERED WORKSHOP, SUCH AS RECRUITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAFF AND TRAINEES, ACQUISITION AND COMPLETION OF WORK ORDERS, COUNSELING AND PLACEMENT OF TRAINEES, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PAY SCALE FOR TRAINEES. RESULTS OF THE PROJECT WERE INTERPRETED, AND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES WAS OUTLINED. AN APPENDIX INCLUDED SAMPLES OF FOUR FORMS AND RECORDS USED AT THE CENTER. (MY)