Vocational Education Special Needs Project. Final Report.

Overview & Synopsis

The purpose of the project reported here was to provide personnel development in vocational education for special needs learners. Considerable progress was made with infusing instruction on special needs learners in vocational education programs in the Joint Oregon State University-Western Oregon State College School of Education. Five courses were also designed and offered to prepare special education teachers to enable mildly handicapped and learning disabled students acquire and benefit from vocational education. The major delivery methods for field-based inservice education activities were individualized consultative assistance and workshops for specific schools and agencies on a "demand" basis. Project staff members helped schools and agencies organize available resources into vocational curricula for handicapped and disadvantaged vocational students. A study was also conducted of the extent to which special needs students were participating in approved vocational programs. (Appendixes, amounting to over one-half of the report, include a sample curriculum for handicapped learners. It contains five units detailing suggested grade level; unit goals; tasks for student, vocational education teacher, and/or special education teacher; and related activities. Among other appendixes are a list of suggested career-vocational tests for handicapped student assessment, a parent/guardian inventory, several skills worksheets, a sample individual vocational education plan, a training agreement, an employee evaluation sheet, and a description of the technical on-site assistance provided to high schools to develop curriculum for handicapped vocational students.) (YLB)