Intended for Illinois teachers of visually, hearing, or physically handicapped children at the elementary grade level, the handbook provides information for developing a career education program. Focused on in chapter 1 is special education in the state of Illinois with sections on philosophy and program guidelines, regional programs and services, the Special Education Advisory Council, the Illinois Commission on Children, and The Child Hearing Test Act. The emergence and current status of career education is reviewed in chapter 2 including conditions calling for educational reform, the Office of Education definition and policy paper, and the Education Amendments of 1974. The purpose, goals, and activities of career education are considered in chapter 3 with sections on the nature of career development, the awareness stage (grades K - 3), and the accommodation stage (grades 4 - 6). Focused on in chapter 4 are special career education needs for visually, hearing, and physically impaired children, respectively. Various career education resources such as the Educational Resources Information Center and the National Career Information Center are discussed in chapter 5. Considered in chapter 6 are aspects of curriculum planning for career education including specification of goals and objectives, lesson planning, and a four step teaching method. The parents' role in career education is examined in the final chapter in the form of six activities for teachers. Appended are additional information on planning lessons in career education and sample lesson plans. (DB)