Why Are Students Struggling? Diagnostic Assessments

Planning the Transition to Employment

By Wendy S. Parent-Johnson, Ph.D. (University of Arizona), Laura Owens, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), & Richard Parent-Johnson, Ph.D. (University of South Dakota)

“An outstanding handbook on how to transition from school into employment.”

—Paul Wehman, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond

“Reflects optimism for employment outcomes for students with disabilities as well as the importance of student-centered approaches . . . full of practical strategies.”

—Richard Luecking, Ed.D., Center for Transition and Career Innovation, University of Maryland

With this practical text, you’ll prepare future professionals to get students with disabilities ready for integrated, competitive employment in the real world. Developed by a team of respected experts, this book embraces the “Employment First” approach to career planning, which emphasizes integrated, competitive employment as the first and preferred option for all people, regardless of disability.

PREPARE PROFESSIONALS TO: • Put together a “collective impact team” to support students’ transition to employment • Apply four recommended practices to help students achieve good employment outcomes • Implement a person-centered planning process that puts the student in the driver’s seat • Help students identify their passions, interests, and learning styles • Support students in exploring careers using online tools and internship opportunities • Facilitate successful collaboration with adult services agencies • Work with local business community to connect students with potential employers • Provide students with the supports they need for success on the job PRACTICAL MATERIALS: Case studies illustrate how to solve common obstacles to finding and keeping a job, and more than a dozen tools and forms—including the ITAP, the Job Observation Assessment Form, and a sample Employment Proposal—will help professionals in their future careers.

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CONTENTS

1. Getting Started 2. Strategies to Facilitate Effective Transitions 3. Planning for Employment: Person-Centered

Planning and Adult Agency Involvement 4. Developing Skills, Identifying Passions, and

Exploring Careers 5. Developing Employer Relationships to Create Job

Opportunities 6. Providing Training and Supports While in School and After 7. Ways to Overcome the “Yeah, But…” Syndrome