Youth who are transitioning from high school to post-school life will encounter a variety of life events (i.e., happenstances) that may be planned or unplanned, and that may positively or negatively influence their career development. However, existing research pertaining to youth with disabilities suggests they are less equipped to utilize happenstances in their career development. As a result, they are at a greater risk of encountering happenstances that have a negative influence on transition outcomes. This article aims to propose planned happenstance skills as a new career development framework based on Happenstance Learning Theory (HLT) that is designed to equip youth, with and without disabilities, to take advantage of happenstances. The framework emphasized the importance of incorporating planned happenstances skills in transition practices to prepare youth with disabilities for ever-changing trends and demands in the job market. A discussion of the challenges and benefits of implementing happenstances in transition practices is offered with the overall goal of improving transition practices to be more relevant to the career development process in the 21st century
