Validating Entry-Level Survival Skills for Service Occupations: Implications for Curriculum Development

Abstract

Past research has suggested skills critical for entry into sheltered employment. To date, no research suggests the skills one might include in a prevocational curriculum for severely handicapped persons wishing employment in nonsheltered settings. Thus, the present study sought to determine potential employers' expectations for entry into competitive employment by utilizing social validation methodology. Questionnaires were sent to 120 potential employers representing food service and janitorial/maid service occupations. They were asked to answer 47 questions derived for the Mithaug and Hagmeier (1978) study. The respondents (66% of the sample) suggested 70 survival skills necessary for entry into competitive employment. Five skills were unanimously agreed upon: verbally reciting one's full name upon request, demonstrating basic addition skills, keeping one's hair combed, following one instruction at a time, and completing repetitive tasks previously learned to proficiency within 0 to 25% of the average rate. Results of this study are discussed, with implications for longitudinal curriculum development.