Everyone experiences the influence of chance events, or happenstance, in their career development. This influence can be positive or negative. Given the unique learning characteristics and experiences of persons with learning disabilities, chance may play a more negative role in their career development, vocational preparation, and occupational attainment. Key ideas from Bandura's (1982) explanation of how chance affects individual life paths—personal and social determinants of reactions to chance events—are contrasted with the personal and social characteristices often attributed to persons with learning disabilities. A general model of the response options to career-related cnance events is also provided and discussed.
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