Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s there were prominent legislative mandates to increase access to quality education, vocational training, and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. In particular, vocational education has long been recognized as a viable option for enhancing the employability of individuals with disabilities. Recent findings from the National Longitudinal Transition of Special Students indicated that students who participated in secondary vocational education were more likely to be competitively employed than youths who did not take vocational education courses (Wagner, 1991). Similar results have been reported in other post-school follow-up studies (Benz & Halpern, 1987; Hasazi, Gordon, & Roe, 1985; Hasazi, Johnson, Hasazi, Gordon, & Hull, 1989). Since access to appropriate vocational education opportunities enhances employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, it deserves increased attention by educators, support personnel, and parents early in students’ career, vocational and transition planning processes. A pressing issue in vocational education revolves around access and equity issues for individuals with disabilities. The Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984, P.L. 98-524, outlined specific assurances that students with disabilities be provided access to a full range of vocational education programs in least restrictive environments. Studies conducted prior to P.L. 98-524 provided some evidence

Are Vocational Special Needs Issues Related to the Concept of Equity in Education

Citations

A Survey of Accessibility to Secondary Vocational Education Programs and Transition Services for Students with Disabilities in Wisconsin

Related Papers (5)

Guidelines for the development of a cooperative vocational education program at Hellgate High School for the disadvantaged distributive education student

The Efficacy of Vocational Education for Students with Disabilities Concerning Post-School Employment Outcomes: A Review of the Literature

A Survey of Accessibility to Secondary Vocational Education Programs and Transition Services for Students with Disabilities in Wisconsin

The Benefits of Secondary Vocational Education for Young People with Disabilities. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study of Special Education Students.

Vocational School Psychology: Serving Special Needs Students.