Project Interface. Curriculum Development Project. Final Report.

Overview & Synopsis

Project Interface was designed to bring together the two distinct fields of special education and vocational education in order to blend the efforts of the two fields to overcome several problems: differing vocabularies, methods, content, vocational evaluation, appropriate placement, teacher preparation, and the differing expectations of special education and vocational personnel. To bridge these disparate elements, Project Interface brought together vocational and special education personnel from three different school districts in the state of Washington. These educators designed and implemented a vocational education model to increase access to vocational training programs by special education/special needs students and to assist mainstreamed students while they are enrolled in vocational education classes. The vocational education model prepared by Project Interface encompasses the following elements: (1) vocational assessment, (2) entry-level skills, (3) materials, (4) curriculum, and (5) individualized educational plan (IEP) involvement. This standardized life-centered model for special education students is expected to enhance all aspects of vocational education for special students and promote building-level support teams for high school teachers involved in the project. (Author/KC)