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Intern Abilities Profile

Zoe W.

Intern background / history:
Zoe is a senior in college who has cerebral palsy. She has good upper body strength, but limited fine motor skills. Manipulating small objects can be difficult. She uses a wheelchair and can also use crutches for shorter distances. Zoe is cooperative and very assertive in making her physical needs known and understood to her employers, co-workers, and instructors. She strives to make her work perfect. She tends to fatigue easily and experiences memory difficulties with complex tasks.

Equipment: (Job equipment, protective clothing, chemicals)
Lab equipment should be adaptable to her crutches and wheelchair.

Task/Assignment:
Intern in the Finace Department of a large corporation.

Environment: (fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, group-work)
Not applicable.

Physical Challenges

  1. Endurance and stamina.
  2. Reaching equipment.
  3. Finger manipulation, pinch, and grasp.
  4. Standing.
  5. Balance.
Accommodations Needed Options and Resources
Sensory Challenges
Not applicable.

Accommodations Needed
Not applicable.

Options and Resources
Not applicable.

Cognitive Challenges
  1. Long term memory.
Accommodations Needed Options and Resources
Not applicable.

Physical, Sensory, & Cognitive Issues and Challenges

Physical Issues
Think of the required physical aspects of the task. What will make the environment accessible, keep the student safe and allow him/her to be an active participant? What lab equipment must be manipulated?

Physical Challenges

  1. lift / carry
  2. stamina/ endurance
  3. push/pull
  4. Knee/squat
  5. reach
  6. repetitive tasks
  7. fine motor: pinch / grasp
  8. fine motor: manipulate/ maneuver
  9. gross motor
  10. sit in chair
  11. walk / stand
  12. balance
  13. bend / twist
  14. stoop / crouch
  15. other

Sensory Issues
Think of room temperature, noise, fumes, dust, odors, allergies. Also consider the ability to speak and/or communicate, and the visual aspects of task or assignments.

Sensory Challenges

  1. vision
  2. hearing
  3. touch
  4. smell
  5. taste
  6. oral communication
  7. temperature
  8. fumes
  9. external stimuli
  10. Lighting
  11. other

Cognitive Issues
Is the assignment done with a group, partner or individually? What memory & communication skills are needed? What is the level of complexity of the task.

Cognitive Challenges

  1. short term memory
  2. long term memory
  3. task complexity
  4. reading
  5. writing
  6. spelling
  7. string of numbers (math)
  8. paying attention
  9. visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner.
  10. self-esteem / advocacy issues
  11. behavior issues / acting out
  12. other

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