Seven Pre-Employment Skills for Children with Complex Needs

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You want your child to find a job, so let’s get started. Teaching pre-employment skills early gives them the best foundation, but it’s never too late. Whether your teen is just beginning to explore work or already eager to apply, you and your child can learn the necessary skills at your own pace. Be patient, practice often, and celebrate progress. 

By age sixteen, students should receive Pre-Employment Transition Services (PreETS) through their school, but you can begin at home long before then. Introduce basic work habits with simple chores and coordinate with your child’s school team to include these skills on their IEP. 

Purposeful early exposure and repetitive, direct instruction are essential for all young people who are blind or have low vision, especially those with multiple disabilities. We’ll help you navigate their unique challenges in the job market and set them up for a rewarding employment journey. 

Seven Pre-Employment Skills to Set Your Student Up for Success 

The following are key areas to focus on as you prepare your child for the world of work, helping them build the confidence, independence, and practical skills they’ll need to thrive in future employment settings: 

1 – Dressing and Self-Care 

• Teach independence in hygiene and dressing. 

• Have your child choose professional attire the night before. 

• Master tasks like making the bed and doing laundry to build responsibility. 

• Discuss the difference between business-appropriate, casual attire and the appropriate clothing for the job they are applying for.  

2 – Communication 

• Help your child understand strengths, limitations, and accommodation needs. 

• Practice “I” statements (e.g., “I need extra time to read this”). 

• Encourage real-world practice: ordering meals, scheduling appointments, and talking with professionals. 

3 – Social Skills 

• Roleplay greetings (handshakes or verbal hellos). 

• Teach students to orient toward a speaker’s voice, understand the concept of eye contact, and recognize what it communicates in social interactions. 

• Explain coworker versus supervisor interactions and practice brief, respectful conversations. 

4 – Problem-Solving Skills 

• Use everyday challenges (a broken sidewalk or sudden change) to brainstorm solutions. 

• Model staying calm, choosing a strategy, and adapting as needed. 

• Encourage reflection: “What worked? What could we try next?” 

5 – Time Management 

• Introduce a tactile or audio timer for daily routines; it is important to try different timers and reminders to determine what works best for your child. (Don’t forget Alexa or Siri as options!) 

• Add alarms for wake-up, breaks, and end-of-day tasks. 

• Gradually shift responsibility so your teen learns to manage their own schedule. 

6 – Money Management 

• Open a mock “payday” envelope weekly to count earnings, subtract expenses, and save. 

• Practice identifying coins, bills, and basic budgeting. 

• Open a bank account and download their app to teach digital financial understanding. 

• Discuss concepts like pay periods, taxes, and banking. 

7 – Travel / Orientation Skills 

• Begin with rides to appointments, then practice independent trips using public transit or ride-share apps. 

• Consult your O&M instructor for route planning and safety strategies. 

• Create a simple tactile map of the route to reinforce learning. 

Pulling It All Together 

Consistent practice builds confidence and skill. Make repetition fun by using role plays and simulations with friends or family. 

To bridge home learning and real work, seek hands-on experiences. Before the first application or interview, consider volunteer shifts, workplace tours, job shadows, apprenticeships, and summer work programs. 

• Schedule workplace tours in areas of potential interest. This may help weed out and narrow down the options your child wants to pursue.   

• Look for volunteer opportunities in businesses that interest your budding job seeker.  

• Plan days for your teen to job-shadow a parent, family member, or friend.   

• Ask about possible apprenticeships, which combine in-school and work-based learning.  

• As the school year winds down, seek out summer work experience possibilities.  

Your student’s TVI and educational team are essential supports during this transition. They offer assessment, advice, and reinforcement at school, tailoring accommodations to your child’s needs and abilities. 

Keep Cheering Them On!  

Don’t get discouraged if reaching that first hire takes a little time. The first job will come if they work towards it and have you and their educational team behind them. Until then, every interaction and attempt is an incredible learning opportunity and provides your child or teen with more crucial repetition and practice.  

Remember, this pre-employment phase involves figuring out and supporting your future worker’s self-determination and employment goals. So, whether they’ve landed their first official position or are still searching for a satisfying line of work, stay positive, take advantage of teachable moments, get help when and where you need it, and most importantly…keep cheering them on!   

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