Discovery Log
20 Steps to Successful Discovery and Customization

Job Seeker:							Process Facilitator:

Date Discovery will begin (Step 1):	__________	Projected Date for Discovery to be completed: __________	Projected Planning Meeting Date: __________

STEPS								 		Date		  Activity				Time spent

Step 1: Explain Customized Employment,  Discovery process, and Vocational Profile to job seeker and family in an office/school environment.				
Step 2: Complete identification information during Step 1, before  visiting the home. Have family confirm that information is complete and accurate.				
Step 3: Determine the outcome for this individual of the Discovery Process- school based work experience, a paid job experience, a job to be held long term, a volunteer position, etc.				
Step 4: Schedule initial meeting with job seeker and family at the job seeker’s home (or alternate location if family or job seeker is not comfortable inviting you to their home).				
Procedural note: While gathering information during Discovery, capture the person’s skills, contributions, and performance of job tasks we strongly recommend that you take observational/interview notes and digital pictures to assist in the development of a narrative or visual profile information and for their Representational Portfolio.				
Step 5: Before or after the home visit, tour neighborhood and observe surroundings, safety, businesses, culture, transportation, services near the home, etc.  Make a list of businesses near the individual’s home.				
Step 6: Meet with job seeker and family for 1-1 ½ hours in their home 
- interview the job seeker and family about their routines
- ask about formal responsibilities, chores 
- inquire about community activities 
- if the job seeker is willing, have them show room you their room
- have them demonstrate how they do chores and what they do for
  activities
- observe interactions, living context, indications of interests, current skills		

						
Step 7:  Social Security information (determining if eligible for a PASS) 
- ask if the individual receives SSI or SSDI.                                               
- ask about concerns, issues, questions about SSA benefits
- ask if family would like you to schedule a benefits analysis				
Step 8: Ask for names of individuals, both personal and professionals who the individual/family feels know the person the best.  With the job seeker’s permission, meet with and interview with these people who know the job seeker well (teachers, agency staff, other related services staff, friends, neighbors, etc.) to obtain more information about the job seeker’s interests, support needs, successful support strategies, and performance in various activities, as well as to identify connections.  				
Step 9: From the information gathered, identify several typical activities that the job seeker participates in successfully (work, a favorite community activity, church, a familiar store…) and participate with the job seeker as they engage in these activities  to observe their performance, interests, connections and other important perspectives.				
Step 10: Ask the individual and family to determine the context/activity outside the home in which the individual is the most familiar and most competent.  Accompany the individual as he/she participates in this activity to determine skills, relationships, supports, etc.				
Step 11: Based on the job seeker’s interests, determine an unfamiliar activity that they haven’t tried before or a place they haven’t gone before and participate in this activity with them.  Observe to obtain more information about support needs, reactions, attention to natural cues, etc.				
Step 12: Return to job seeker’s home for additional information, unstructured conversation, observation, and further interviews.  1 – 3 additional visits are recommended.				
Step 13: Review files, memorabilia and records of past and current activities services.				
Step 14: Record information obtained in Discovery in interview notes and observation notes.  Be very descriptive in your writing.				
Step 15: Based upon the audience for the Profile determine if this information should be captured in a visual Profile, narrative profile or other format.				
Step 16: Develop a written, visual or alternative format profile of the job seeker following the information provided in training.				
Step 17: Provide a copy of draft Vocational Profile or other document to job seeker and family for their review, suggestions and approval.				
Step 18: Schedule a Customized Planning Meeting with input from the job seeker/family within two weeks of the completion of the profile.				
Step 19: Hold Customized Planning Meeting to develop a plan for job development.  (Meeting should be held 1 week after Discovery is completed).				
Sept 20: Develop a representational portfolio for the job seeker using visual and narrative information developed during discovery and the Customized Planning Meeting.