Services for the Handicapped: Linking Special Education, Occupational Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation.

Overview & Synopsis

The report presents a summary of problems, issues, and recommendations regarding the interagency cooperation of special education, occupational education, and vocational rehabilitation in New York State. The report is the result of seven conferences attended by state, regional, and local agency personnel which focused on five topic areas: communication/information, attitudes, policies/procedures, resources (human and other), and programs (K-adult). Synopses of problems and issues are listed, along with summaries of recommendations for each topic. Among general findings of the conferences were that there are currently no stated common purposes, policies, or procedures to foster cooperative/collaborative relationships; there are no clear role or responsibility delineations; there is no reliable system for managing the transmission, storage, and retrieval of information required; and there is no formalized continuum encompassing career education, prevocational, occupational education, and vocational rehabilitation for handicapped persons. (CL)