This report examines the structural divide between for-credit and noncredit postsecondary education and the problems it presents for people seeking better jobs with higher pay. It highlights innovative ways that some community colleges are trying to bridge the gap nationally--creating more seamless pathways between credit and noncredit…

Research investigating the learning and career transitions of those disadvantaged in the labour market has resulted in the development of a four-component model to enable disadvantaged groups to navigate learning and career transitions. The four components of the model include: the self-concept; learning and recognition; career and life planning;…

This annotated bibliography on school-to-work transition for individuals with disabilities contains over 600 citations arranged alphabetically by author. The bibliography includes journal articles, books, book chapters, unpublished papers, reports, and transcripts of government hearings. The materials were produced between 1961 and 1987. (JDD)

The article focuses on vocational alternatives for severely disabled persons after age 21, including supported employment, supported competitive employment, and sheltered enclaves in industry. The authors also discuss the requirements for successful community living and note the importance of individualized transition plans, parent education and…

The paper examines the role of parents in the transition of developmentally disabled or otherwise handicapped persons into adult services. Because parents play an important role on the interdisciplinary team, parent training is important. This training can come in the form of university credit courses, workshops and mini-courses, self-help groups,…

Special needs populations lacking adequate preparation for employment can benefit from programs of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). However, enrollment and placement rates for these groups vary widely among states. Overall, it is important that JTPA resources are used equitably and effectively. (CH)

The Monitoring and Tracking Clients and Helpers (MATCH) system assesses the skills and needs of deaf-blind individuals completing educational programs and compares them with training opportunities of service agencies. The information is used to determine the most appropriate adult placement and to determine needed areas unmet by existing programs.…

This literature review examines 10 areas related to employment of adults with learning disabilities: transitions to work, obtaining employment, type of employment, rate of employment, wages, job satisfaction, job success, effect of learning disabilities on work, compensatory strategies, and employer perceptions. Methodological issues, emergent…

This article reviews U.S. federal legislation mandating collaborative transition planning between schools and adult service providers. The Collaborative Transition Model, a six-stage interdisciplinary approach which relates vocational assessment activities to instruction, is offered as one example of a formal transition system being implemented in…

Discusses shifts in education and employment training policies and their implications for transition services for special needs populations. Looks at major laws supporting transition from school to work, postsecondary education, and independent adult life, and explores the implications of these reforms for the future of transition programs for…

The demand for improved postschool outcomes has shifted school reform strategy from incremental efforts to fundamental change. Collaboration is consistently identified as an effective approach for fostering communications and creating new systems. Social and vocational educators must become skilled collaborators to influence the course of change.…

Describes the development and components of a referral database management system developed by the Arkansas Transition Project. The system enables individualized-education-plan team members to refer students with disabilities directly to adult agencies and to receive a monitoring report describing the agency response to the referral. The system is…

This paper analyzes the philosophy and goal strategies of transition programs, focusing on criteria for success, needs of the disabled, training of personnel, staffing, client controls, the pre-transition school environment, the adult transition environment, and integration into adult society. Several recommendations for improved transition…

This study identifies and evaluates the pathways available from school to vocational education and training and to work, for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Research involved interviews with seven young people from Victoria who had either just completed secondary school and were enrolling in a VET course, or had completed a course and…

This document presents one module in a set of training resources for trainers to use with parents and/or professionals serving children with disabilties; focus is on transition planning. The modules stress content and activities that build skills and offer resources to promote parent-professional collaboration. Each training module takes about 2…