The authors cite the need for six types of activities in secondary special education: (1) occupational awareness, exploration, and basic work experience; (2) in-depth career/vocational assessment; (3) instruction in job-related academic skills; (4) instruction in job-related interpersonal skills; (5) support services to other disciplines; and (6)…

The report on the transition of handicapped youth to adult and working life in member nations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has four parts: the first states the aim of the study, its scope, and the activities undertaken; the second outlines the major issues which emerged; the third describes innovations and…

The article reviews studies on vocational adjustment of the learning disabled as well as current practices and concludes that secondary programs should provide six types of vocationally relevant activities including: occupational awareness/exploration, vocational assessment, instruction in job-related academic skills, instruction in job-related…

Transition planning for young people with special educational needs is a crucial but often overlooked element of social inclusion. While there is now considerable official guidance on how to manage the school leaving process for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, little is known about how to make effective transitions…

A study examined the range of full-time courses for youths between the ages of 15 and 19 that are offered under Australia's Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system. Two reports resulted from the study. The first report reviewed the TAFE transition education program and formulated 20 recommendations concerning development of the Participation…

This digest presents summary information on the characteristics and needs of children with learning disabilities (LD). The federal definition of learning disabilities is given and the existences of differences at the state level noted. Next viewpoints on various issues are briefly considered including the special educational needs of students with…

The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) has developed five sets of measures to respond to the problems of the transition from school to working life. These are (1) Arbeitslehre (learning about the world of work); (2) vocational guidance, involving multimedia, open-access vocational information centers and close coordination with the Arbeitslehre…

Although disabled students need the same comprehensive assistance in making the transition from school to work as their nondisabled counterparts, most disabled youth, and particulary those with severe disabilities, do not receive adequate assistance in this area. This situation can be remedied by approaching the transition to employment as a…

The five main issues that are currently confronting vocational educators and policymakers in New Zealand are as follows: participation rates in vocational education and training, the changing role of vocational education and training in secondary schools, new initiatives in light of youth unemployment and transition difficulties, recognition of…

This study examined the training options and needs of paraprofessionals who provide transition services to students with disabilities in public school and adult agencies. Questionnaire responses of 142 individuals and interviews with 27 paraprofessionals and supervisors indicated that few structured training programs for these paraprofessionals…

In Ohio, a food service program is partnering with a national restaurant chain to help students with learning disabilities transition from school to work. The Greene County Career Center in Xenia, Ohio, has a food service program satisfying the appetites of visitors, students and staff, as well as meeting the training goals of students with…

In response to the Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act, schools and colleges across the country are rushing to launch "tech prep" education programs. The resulting 2 + 2 programs are designed primarily for 16- to 20-year-olds who complete high school and then go on for postsecondary education in a technical or practical field.…

In response to findings that 50-80% of handicapped adults nationwide are unemployed, the state of South Dakota has mandated transition planning for handicapped secondary students. A statewide mail survey examined the awareness and attitudes of special education teachers about the need for transition services, the extent of current teacher training…

This paper examines how creative thinking techniques can be used to help rural educators provide effective transition programs and services to secondary students. Factors affecting transition in rural areas include a small, homogenous economic base; travel time and distance between job sites; lack of services and trained staff; the community role…

The term "contextual learning" refers to the type of learning that has also been called experiential learning, real-world education, active learning, and learner-centered instruction. Unlike traditional school learning, which is based on the principles of individual learning in a manner that is independent of tools and dependent on…