Abstract
One of the primary ways people define themselves is through their profession or job. Although some take the idea of employment for granted, there are many individuals with disabilities who are eager to work but unable to find even basic entry-level positions; individuals with disabilities are under-employed. School-based special education services should include training designed to help youth with disabilities achieve their post-school employment goals. This chapter provides a description of the benefits of work for individuals with disabilities as well as societal and employer-related barriers to employment. In addition, this chapter details features of effective school-based programs to promote employment. Although these transition program features may contain any number of activities, three broad programmatic components that may increase employment options for students with disabilities after they finish high school are described. First, strategies are presented to target the development of student skills desired by employers. Second, opportunities related to work-based learning are described, and strategies for facilitating these experiences are provided. And finally, this chapter includes a description of how school-based personnel may make connections with stakeholders outside the school to support the development of employability skills for students with disabilities.