Connecting Employers, Schools, and Youth Through Intermediaries

Partnerships between education and business have proven to be an effective means for preparing young people with disabilities for positive postschool outcomes. Employers, however, are often inundated by requests for participation, causing confusion and ultimately hampering relationships between the two parties. Intermediaries can coordinate the connection between schools and employers

Addressing the Transition Needs of Youth with Disabilities through the WIA System

Interagency collaboration has been repeatedly cited as one of the most important strategies in helping youth with disabilities move successfully from school into employment and adult life. However, often the primary focus of the collaboration and planning between school personnel and community service providers has been on disability-specific services and not on other, more generically available programs and services.The passage of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 offers new options and opportunities for youth in transition. WIA has challenged communities to create opportunities for all youth that moved beyond traditional vocational rehabilitation and related services. WIA represents expanded opportunities to prepare youth with disabilities for the transition to employment by assuring both access to and participation in WIA-funded youth and adult services. These services may benefit youth with disabilities as they plan for and make the transition from school to work

Work-Based Learning and Future Employment for Youth: A Guide for Parents and Guardians

Setting high expectations early in life is an important step in order for youth to develop the skills to succeed in the future. Work-based learning is one way youth can identify interests, strengths, skills, and needs related to career development. A hands-on experience in a real setting, work-based learning includes a broad range of opportunities including short-term introductory activities such as job shadowing, informational interviews, and workplace tours, as well as more long-term and intensive training including workplace mentoring, apprenticeships, and paid employment. Volunteer work, service learning, and activities at a student's school site can also provide rich, work-based learning opportunities. Potential benefits of work-based learning for youth while they are still in school include:identification of career interests, skills, and abilities; exposure to job requirements and responsibilities, employer expectations, workplace etiquette, and workplace dynamics; development of critical workplace skills and a solid foundation for good work habits; improvement of postschool outcomes; and selection of appropriate courses of study tied to career goals

Work-Based Learning and Future Employment for Youth: A Guide for Parents and Guardians (NCSET Information Brief)

A brief outlining how work-based learning helps youth identify interests, strengths, skills, and needs related to career development. This brief is intended for parents and guardians of youth with disabilities, and includes specific examples, as well as further resources.This report was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, (Cooperative Agreement No. H326J000005). Although the U.S. Department of Education has reviewed this document, the contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of other organizations imply endorsement by those organizations or the U.S. Government