The Pennsylvania Vocational Education Internship Program for Working with Special Needs Learners. Final Report.

Overview & Synopsis

An internship project was developed to prepare vocational and special education teachers to train special needs learners in vocational education. The program encouraged better cooperative efforts between vocational and special educators by providing an opportunity for these teachers to consult with and learn about and from one another. During the project, 40 vocational education students and 20 special education students from the University of Pittsburgh worked directly with special needs learners for a 2-week internship in a special needs service agency or vocational school. The project coordinator visited each intern, and the director of the special needs service agency or vocational school supervised them. Each intern planned, conducted, and evaluated vocational education programs for special needs learners. Interns evaluated their teaching experience and demonstrated an increased level of confidence in their ability to work with and to teach special needs learners in vocational education and to prepare them for employment. (Author/KC)