Kayla Shaver is an intern with Huron County Board of Developmental Disabilities, which is the primary agency in the county that provides support for adults and children with developmental disabilities.
Tell us a little bit about your internship placement, job duties, and the activities you've been involved in.
I have sat in on Individual Support Plan meetings, Individual Education Plan meetings, a court hearing for an individual with developmental disabilities, and I even got to sit in on an expulsion hearing. I have also participated in developing annual goals for individuals with developmental disabilities, performed annual assessments, and gone on outings with community recreation through the Board. I have been able to go on home visits, to the county workshop, and to the school for individuals with developmental disabilities as well as mainstream schools. I was fortunate enough to be able to volunteer at the Ohio Statehouse for the Developmental Disabilities Awareness and Advocacy Day.
How has Ashland University's Social Work Program prepared you for your internship?
In my agency, there are not a lot of people who have social work degrees. As a result, they were not familiar with the "person-centered" approach until new adult assessment criteria were introduced last year. I had a head start because I already knew this idea and understood what it meant for the client.
What have you enjoyed most about your internship?
I have really enjoyed getting to know the individuals and learning what is important to them. I have also been able to get to know quirks about individuals that are unique to them.
More information about Huron County Board of Developmental Disabilities can be found here.
All social work students undergo a 500-hour internship in their senior year, during which they put into practice the skills they have learned throughout their time at Ashland University while gaining valuable experiences to prepare them for employment or graduate studies after graduation. For more information about Ashland University’s Social Work Program, please visit our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment