The article presents a three-level model for the vocational assessment of handicapped students based on guidelines developed by the Texas Education Agency. The model outlines philosophy, goals, time lines, and roles and responsibilities of administrators, counselors, and teachers. (CL)

Two Massachusetts projects are addressing the need for improved career/vocational evaluation of special needs students in middle/junior high schools. Data are derived from actual instructional experience and represent actual vocational knowledge, skills, attitudes, and interests, as well as specific subskills contributing to vocational…

Describes advantages and disadvantages of work evaluation methods: ranking, market pricing, banding, classification, single-factor, competency, point-factor, and factor comparison. Compares work evaluation perspectives: traditional, realist, market advocate, strategist, organizational development, social reality, contingency theory, competency,…

Offers justification for school psychologist's involvement in vocational assessment process and suggests use of the vocational instrument Self-Directed Search (SDS). Argues use of SDS can provide school psychologists with psychometrically sound and time- and cost-efficient means of incorporating vocational component. Discusses integration of SDS…

The article considers the importance of vocational evaluation for individuals with learning disabilities, notes a legislative mandate for vocational evaluation, defines it in the context of special education, describes specific evaluation tools such as performance tests and work samples, and identifies seven vocational evaluation outcomes for…

Examined perceptions of professionals employed in rehabilitation and rehabilitation-related human service programs serving consumers with severe disabilities and complex special needs regarding their training priorities. Findings suggest that vocational tasks related to community integration were perceived differently across rehabilitation…

Professional practice is important in the lives of many people and it is often assumed that professionals are motivated with a desire to serve the public interest. However, studies have increasingly addressed the professional dilemma of combining demands for efficiency with the obligation to help others. This study examines what professionals want…

The Skills Assessment Module (SAM) is designed to assess special needs students' affective, cognitive, and manipulative strengths and weaknesses in relation to vocational skills required in various training programs within a school system. Initial sections outline procedures and techniques (including paper-pencil tests, hands-on skill modules and…

This document contains 12 papers presented to medical and vocational rehabilitation professionals on the topic of vocational rehabilitation and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) at a Denver conference in 1979. The following papers are contained in this report: "Rehabilitation and ESRD: Services with a New Thrust" by Kathleen E. Lloyd;…

The paper sets forth the position of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Career Development regarding career/vocational assessment. The statement addresses the definitions, purpose, goals, methods, and personnel involved. (CL)

Research has suggested that career maturity, measured by students' readiness to make sound educational and occupational choices, is deficient in learning disabled students. The Career Development Inventory focuses on five dimensions: career planning, career exploration, decision making, world-of-work information, and knowledge of preferred…

An overview of vocational assessment cites problems such as using "trait" oriented approaches rather than more specific "real-work" task techniques for visually impaired and blind employment candidates. However, with more properly aligned technology geared to the particular needs of handicapped persons, recent trends are emerging, and suggestions…

Highlights three advantages of the multiple-baseline design for evaluating work performance in vocational training programs: (1) allowing the trainer to determine the success of a vocational program without withdrawing training; (2) ruling out effects of history; and (3) providing a versatile evaluation procedure. (BH)

A study investigated support provided to target employees who have been competitively employed. Ten supervisors in businesses employing individuals with handicaps were interviewed. Supervisors' roles included hiring, modifying the job, providing training, assisting co-workers in providing employee support, evaluating employees, and providing…

High point profile analysis of scores from the General Occupational Theme scale of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank-Strong Campbell Interest Inventory and the General Aptitude Test Battery for 516 males and 330 females indicated that interests correlated with high abilities. A theoretically coherent typology of individuals' vocational…