The report describes the Swedish educational and employment system and efforts underway to facilitate the transition from school to work for handicapped adolescents. A review of the general education system touches upon administrative structure, finance, and trends in compulsory comprehensive school and in upper secondary schools. The next section…

The paper describes Stepping Stones Growth Center, which prepared handicapped students for transition into competitive employment. The origins of the program and its emphasis on functional skill training are reviewed, followed by a description of three levels of services: a "ready" class stressing basic skills, a "set" class emphasizing…

This publication provides curriculum developers with a model of a pretechnical curriculum with special emphasis on human factors at the workplace. Section 1 describes this model, the focus of which is self-empowerment, which in turn is related to an individual's mastery of three categories of interrelated skills and knowledge: generalizable,…

This practicum developed a program to help students with disabilities to locate adequate employment, utilize community services, and live independently in the community. Practicum activities involved developing a comprehensive K-12 vocational curriculum, developing a policies and procedures manual for competitive/supportive employment, increasing…

The guide, developed by the Secondary Transition and Employment Project (STEP) in Idaho, provides an overview of its sequential vocational curriculum intended to help students with mild, moderate, and severe handicaps to: (1) identify their vocational preferences and aptitudes; (2) use community resources to find out about jobs; (3) observe and…

Six papers address issues in the transition from school to work for mentally retarded and developmentally disabled young adults. The first presents a three-stage vocational transition model emphasizing functional curricula, integrated services, community-based instruction, involvement of parents and adult services representatives, and a diversity…

In light of the large and growing numbers of "low functioning deaf" adults who read at very low levels, this article reviews research related to transition for adolescents with disabilities, especially those who are deaf or hard of hearing. It argues for a greater emphasis on vocational and independent living skills in transition programs.…

The purpose of this programming guide is to assist local and intermediate Michigan school districts in planning, developing, and implementing programs and services for secondary special education. The first chapter, "Delivery of Secondary Programs and Services," outlines the program's philosophy, effective program development, a program…

This report describes the methodology used in an evaluation study to measure the effectiveness of the West End Special Education Local Plan Area's program for improving the transition of special needs students from secondary school into adult life. Goals of the San Bernardino, California, study included measuring students' quality of life upon…

A study analyzed the experience of eight schools that had begun working to integrate their academic and vocational education programs several years before passage of the 1990 Perkins Act amendments. The following common themes were identified as collectively defining integration as a distinct reform effort: (1) richer, better sequenced curricula…

This resource guide is the result of a 3-year effort by a task force which addressed vocational and career education services for disabled students in Louisiana. Section I reports on the assessment process for students requiring special education with subsections on essential competencies recommended for vocational assessment personnel, the role…

This proceedings document provides the texts of 13 presentations given at a 2-day conference in 1991 which focused on policies, materials, programs, and activities being implemented in Alabama to foster the successful transition of youth with disabilities to adult life. Two papers address the national scene: "Transition: Old Wine in New…

This report describes activities of Project Work, a federally funded program to provide vocational preparation skills and transition services for high school students with disabilities. The program served 150 students at a large urban high school in San Diego (California). Three major objectives were accomplished: (1) development of an…

This booklet, based on the Transition Through the Arts project developed by Very Special Arts, describes the successes that project instructors have achieved in using the arts to assist individuals with developmental disabilities reach employment. The project uses the arts as a vehicle to teach and reinforce the social and personal skill…

The Chinese Bilingual Education Program operates at Seward Park and Washington Irving high schools in New York City. The program offers instructional and supportive services to native Chinese speakers of limited English proficiency. This report describes the program's history, philosophy, organization and staffing, funding, and goals and…