Career Awareness and Developmental Model to Prepare the Handicapped for Employment

Abstract

The Work Study and Special Needs Programs of the Cleveland Public Schools were established based on the rationale that assisting handicapped students to become economically self-supporting prior to or upon graduation is necessary for self-growth and self-respect. Under the umbrella of a work study model (Kolstoe, 1965; Brolin, 1976), the program focuses upon career awareness and personal guidance preparation and support during the majority of the academic school year for high school students with handicaps. It incorporates the basic tenets of the Rehabilitation Model (Gellman, 1971; Plue, 1972; Rusalem, Malikin and Brolin, 1976) and adapts them to provide vocational evaluation, vocational adjustment, vocational training, and job placement. The program's goal for students is least restrictive placement in a vocational training program based upon minimum competencies. It does this by providing students with essential career education experiences, adjustment, and training to help them make a realistic occupational choice.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baker, J. , and Sawyer, H.W. Adjustment services in emphasis on human change. Menomonie, Wisconsin: Materials Development Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout , 1971.

Becker, R.L. The reading free vocational interest inventory: Measurement of job preference in the EMR. Paper presented at the Special Study Institute, Vocational Evaluation and Curriculum Modification, Des Moines, Iowa, February 1972.

Brolin, D.E. Vocational preparation of retarded citizens. Columbus, OH.: Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co., 1976.

Brolin, D.E. , and Kokaska, C.J. Critical issues in job placement of the educable mentally retarded . Rehabilitation Literature, 1974, 10, 174-177.

Daniels, L.K. Vocational rehabilitation of the mentally retarded. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1974 .

de Jung, J. Measurement of community adjustment of retarded young adults. Paper presented at annual meeting of The Council for Exceptional Children , Atlanta, Georgia, April 12, 1977 .

Eagle, E. Prognosis and outcome of community placement of institutionalized retardates , American Journal of Mental Deficiency,

Esser, J. Individual client planning for work adjustment services. Menomonie, Wisconsin: Materials Development Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout, 1975.

Fernald, W. Aftercare study of the patients discharged from Waverly for a period of twenty-five years. In M . Rosen , G. Clark , and M. Kwitz , (Eds.). The History of Mental Retardation. Baltimore: University Park Press, 1976.

10.

Gellman, W. , Gendel, H. , Glasser, N.M. , Friedman, S.B. , and Neff, S. Adjusting people to work. Menomonie, Wisconsin : Materials Development Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout , 1971.

11.

Halpern, A. , Several unemployment and vocational opportunities for EMR individuals . American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1973, 79, 123-127.

12.

Hardy, R.E. , and Cull, J.G. Vocational evaluation for rehabilitation services. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1973 .

13.

Hoffman, P.R. Work evaluation. Paper presented at the Texas Rehabilitation Conference , Houston, Texas, 1969.

14.

Keim , R.G. A proposed strategy of diagnosis of vocational potential of a tenth grade urban educable mentally retarded population: An alternative to existing organizational practice. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Case-Western Reserve University , 1979.

15.

Kolstoe, O.P. , and Shafter, A.J. Employability predictions for mentally retarded adults: A methodological note . American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1961 , 66, 287-289.

16.

Kolstoe, O.P. , and Frey , R.M. A high school work-study program for mentally subnormal students. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1965.

17.

McDaniel, R.S. , Baker, F.M. , and Freeman, E.R.

Extending behavior modification to the natural environment for work adjustment. Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment

Bulletin , 1975, 8, 12-19.

18.

Neff, W. Problems in work evaluation. Personnel and Guidance Journal , 1966, 44, 682-688.

19.

Neff, W.S. Work and Human Behavior. New York: Atherton Press, 1968.

20.

Plue, W.V. Vocational education for the educable mentally retarded: Research monograph number 11, Vol. 1, ERIC:EDO 70900, July 1972.

21.

Pruitt, W.A. Task analysis of the vocational rehabilitation graduate major with an emphasis in work evaluation: A comparative study of two groups of work evaluators. Unpublished mimeographed monograph, Graduate College, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin, 1972.

22.

Pruitt, W.A. Vocational (work) evaluation. Menomonie, Wisconsin , Walt Pruitt Associates, 1977.

23.

Rusalem, H. , and Malikin, D. Contemporary vocational rehabilitation. New York : New York University Press, 1976 .

24.

Sinick, D. Client evaluation: Work task approach. Rehabilitation Record , 1962, 3, 6-8.

25.

Tenth Institute on Rehabilitation Services. Vocational evaluation and work adjustment services in vocational rehabilitation . Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social and Rehabilitation Services Administration , 1972.

26.

United States Congress. Education Act of 1976 Public Law 94-482, 1976.