Youths in transition and in programs which address special needs such as mild handicaps and emotional disturbance are often the defining members of a discordant ecosystem. Employment and employer behavior play a crucial role in any successful transition from school to independent adult life. The Career Ladder Program utilizes principles from Re-ED such as team building, affective education, ecosystematic intervention, and long-range enablement planning to address the issues faced by these young people and to facilitate successful transitions. This article outlines some of the relevant principles, dynamics of the transition experience, and examples of how the principles are actually applied.
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