Abstract
Upon leaving school, the majority of young adults with learning and behavior problems experience unemployment, social isolation, and economic dependence. Recent follow-up studies of special education graduates suggest that little more than one third are employed full-time, live independently, and are self-supporting. The consistency of this pattern across several statewide studies leaves little doubt about the magnitude of the problem (Fardig, Algozzine, Schwartz, Hensel, & Westling, 1985; Hasazi, Gordon, & Roe, 1985; Mithaug, Horiuchi, & Fanning, 1985; Mithaug, Horiuchi, & McNulty, 1987).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Agran, M., and Martin, J. E. (1987). Applying a technology of self-control in community environments for mentally retarded individuals. In M. Hersen, R. M. Eisler, and P. M. Miller (Eds.), Progress in behavior modification (Vol. 21, pp. 108–151 ). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Agran, M., and Moore, S. (1987). Transitional programming: Suggesting an adaptability model. In J. L. Matson and R. P. Barrett (Eds.), Advances in mental retardation and developmental disabilities (Vol. 3, pp. 179–208 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Agran, M., Fodor-Davis, J., and Moore, S. C. (1986). The effects of self-instructional training on job task-sequencing: Suggesting a problem-solving strategy. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 21, 273–281.
Agran, M., Fodor-Davis, J., Moore, S. C., and Deer, M. (1988). The effects of self-generated prompting procedures on the instruction following skills of students with severe handicaps. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Agran, M., Martin, J. E., and Mithaug, D. E. (1987). Transitional assessment for students with mental retardation. Diagnostique, 12, 173–184.
Bandura, A. (1969). Principles of behavior modification. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Bellamy, G. T., Rhodes, L. E., and Albin, J. M. (1986). Supported employment. In W. E. Kiernan and J. A. Stark (Eds.), Pathways to employment for adults with developmental disabilities (pp. 129–138 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Bellamy, G. T., Rhodes, L. E., Mank, D. M., and Albin, J. M. (1988). Supported employment. Baltimore: Brookes.
Brickey, M. P., Campbell, K. M., and Browning, L. J. (1985). A five-year follow-up of sheltered workshop employees placed in competitive jobs. Mental Retardation, 23, 67–83.
Bronicki, G. J., and Turnbull, A. P. (1987). Family-professional interactions. In M. Snell (Ed.), Systematic instruction of persons with severe handicaps ( 3rd ed., pp. 9–35 ). Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.
Buckley, J., and Mank, D. M. (1988). Self-management programming for supported employment. In D. O. Olsen and P. Ferguson (Eds.), Disability research: Issues in policy and practice (pp. 63–90 ). Eugene, OR: University of Oregon Specialized Training Program.
Close, D. W., and Keating, T. J. (1988). Community living and work. In R. Gaylord-Ross (Ed.), Vocational education for persons with handicaps (pp. 87–108 ). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
Colorado Department of Education. (1983). Colorado employability skills survey.
Denver: Author. Edgar, D. (1987). Secondary programs in special education: Are many of them justifiable? Exceptional Children, 53, 555–561.
Edgar, E., and Levine, P. (1988). A longitudinal study of graduates of special education. Interchange,8(2), 3–5. (Newsletter from the University of Illinois Transition Institute).
Fardig, D. B., Algozzine, R. F., Schwartz, S. E., Hensel, J. W., and Westling, D. L. (1985). Postsecondary vocational adjustment of rural mildly handicapped students. Exceptional Children, 52, 115–121.
Gifford, J., Rusch, F. R., Martin, J. E., and White, D. M. (1984). Autonomy and adaptability: A proposed technology for maintaining work behavior. In N. Ellis and N. Bray (Eds.), International review of research in mental retardation (Vol. 12, pp. 285–314 ). New York: Academic Press.
Goodall, P. A., Wehman, P., Cleveland, P. (1983). Job placement for mentally retarded individuals. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 18, 271–278.
Guess, D., and Siegel-Causey, E. (1985). Behavioral control and education of severely handicapped students: Who’s doing what to whom and why? In D. Bricker and J. Filler (Eds.), Severe mental retardation: From theory to practice (pp. 230–243 ). Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
Guess, D., Benson, H. A., and Siegel-Causey, E. (1985). Concepts and issues related to choice making and autonomy among persons with severe disabilities. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 10, 79–86.
Hardman, M., and McDonnell, J. (1987). Implementing federal transition initiatives for youths with severe handicaps: The Utah community-based transition project. Exceptional Children, 53, 493–498.
Hasazi, S. B., Gordon, L. R., and Roe, C. A. (1985). Factors associated with employment status of handicapped youth exiting high school from 1979–1983. Exceptional Children, 51, 493–469.
Hasazi, S. B., Gordon, L. R., Roe, C. A., Hull, M., Finck, D., and Salembier, G. (1985). A statewide follow-up on post-high school employment and residential status of students labelled, “mentally retarded”. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 20, 222–234.
Hill, M. L., Banks, D., Handrich, R. R., Wehman, P. H., Hill, J. W., and Shafer, M. S. (1987). Benefit-cost analysis of supported competitive employment for persons with mental retardation. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 8, 71–89.
Hill, J., Seyfarth, J., Banks, P. D., Wehman, P.; and Orelove, F. (1987). Parent attitudes about working conditions of their adult mentally retarded sons and daughters. Exceptional Children, 54, 9–23.
Johnson, D. R., Bruininks, R. H., and Thurlow, M. L. (1987). Meeting the challenge of transition service planning through improved interagency cooperation. Exceptional Children, 53, 522–530.
Kernan, K., and Koegel, R. (1980). Employment experiences of community-based mildly retarded adults. Working paper No. 14, Socio-Behavioral Group, Mental Retardation Research Center, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles.
Kochany, L., and Keller, J. (1981). An analysis and evaluation of the failure of severely disabled individuals in competitive employment. In P. Wehman (Ed.), Competitive employment: New horizons for severely disabled individuals (pp. 181–198 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Krause, M. W., and MacEachron, A. E. (1982). Competitive employment training for mentally retarded adults: The supported work model. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 86, 650–653.
Kregel, J., Wehman, P., Seyfarth, J., and Marshall, K. (1986). Community integration of young adults with mental retardation: Transition from school to adulthood. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 21, 35–42.
Kurtz, P. D., and Neisworth, J. T. (1976). Self-control possibilities for exceptional children. Exceptional Children, 42, 212–217.
Lagomarcino, T. R. (1986). Community services: Using the supported work model within an adult service agency. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 6575 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Mank, D., and Horner, R. H. (1987). Self-recruited feedback: A cost-effective procedure for maintaining behavior. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 8, 91–112.
Mank, D., and Horner, R. H. (1988). Instructional programming in vocational education. in R. Gaylord-Ross (Ed.), Vocational education for persons with handicaps (pp. 142–173 ). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
Mank, D., Rhodes, L., and Bellamy, G. T. (1986). Four supported employment models. In W. Kiernan and J. Stark (Eds.), Pathways to employment for adults with developmental disabilities (pp. 139–153 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Martin, J. E. (1982). Time-setting generalization assessment of mentally retarded adults acquired self-control in the preparation of complex meals after withdrawal of training components and trainers. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Department of Special Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Martin, J. E. (1986). Identifying potential jobs. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 165–186 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Martin, J. E. and Husch, J. V. (1987). School-based vocational training and labor laws. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 12, 140–144.
Martin, J. E., Schneider, K. E., Rusch, F. R., and Geske, T. G. (1982). Training mentally retarded individuals for competitive employment: Benefits of transitional employment. Exceptional Education Quarterly, 3, 58–66.
Martin, J. E., Mithaug, D. E., and Husch, J. V. (1988). How to teach adaptability in community training and supported employment. Colorado Springs, CO: Ascent Publications.
Martin, J. E., Burger, D. L., Elias-Burger, S., and Mithaug, D. E. (1988). Application of self-control strategies to facilitate independence. In N. Bray (Ed.), International review of research in mental retardation (Vol. 15, pp. 155–193 ). New York: Academic Press.
McDonnell, J., and Hardman, M. (1985). Planning the transition of severely handicapped youth from school to adult services: A framework for high school programs. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 20, 275–286.
McLoughlin, C. S., Garner, J. B., and Callahan, M. (1987). Getting employed, staying employed. Baltimore: Brookes.
Menchetti, B. M., and Rusch, F. R. (in press). Vocational evaluation and eligibility for rehabilitation services. In P. Wehman Sr S. Moon (Eds.), Vocational rehabilitation and supported employment. Baltimore: Brookes.
Menchetti, B. M., Rusch, F. R., and Owens, D. (1982). Assessing the vocational needs of mentally retarded adolescents and adults. In J. L. Matson and S. E. Bruening (Eds.), Assessing the mentally retarded (pp. 247–284 ). New York: Grunne and Stratton.
Mithaug, D. E., Horiuchi, C. N., and Fanning, P. N. (1985). A report on the Colorado statewide follow-up survey of special education students. Exceptional Children, 51, 397–404.
Mithaug, D. E., Horiuchi, C. N., and McNulty, B. A. (1987). Parent report on the transition of students graduating from Colorado special education programs in 1978 and 1979. Denver: Colorado Dept. of Education.
Mithaug, D. E., Martin, J. E., and Agran, M. (1987). Adaptability instruction: The goal of transitional programming. Exceptional Children, 53, 500–505.
Mithaug, D. E., Martin, J. E., and Burger, D. L. (1987a). VITAL independence training and adaptability learning. Colorado Springs, CO: Ascent Publications.
Mithaug, D. E., Martin, J. E., and Burger, D. L. (1987b). VITAL checklist and curriculum guide. Colorado Springs, CO: Ascent Publications.
Mithaug, D. E., Martin, J. E., Agran, M., and Rusch, F. R. (1988). Why special education students fail: How to teach them to succeed. Colorado Springs, CO: Ascent Publications.
Mithaug, D. E., Martin, J. E., Frazier, E., and Allen, M. (1988). What special education teenagers must learn at home. Colorado Springs, CO: Ascent Publications.
Mithaug, D. E., Martin, J. E., and Husch, J. V. (1988). How to teach success strategies to students with special needs. Colorado Springs, CO: Ascent Publications.
Mithaug, D. E., Martin, J. E., Husch, J. V., Agran, M., and Rusch, F. R. (1988). When will persons in supported employment need less support? Colorado Springs, CO: Ascent Publications.
Moore, S. C., Agran, M., and Fodor-Davis, J. (in press). Using self-management strategies to increase the production rates of workers with severe handicaps. Education and training of the mentally retarded.
Nietupski, J., Hamre-Nietupski, S., Welch, J., and Anderson, R. (1983). Establishing and maintaining vocational training sites for moderately and severely handicapped students: Strategies for community/vocational trainers. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 18, 169–175.
Pancsofar, E. L. (1986). Assessing work behavior. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 93–102 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Playing the waiting game. ( 1988, March). Association for Retarded Citizens News for Colorado, p. 1.
Pumpian, I., West, E., and Shepard, H. (1988). Vocational evaluation of persons with severe handicaps. In R. Gaylord-Ross (Ed.), Vocational education for persons with handicaps (pp. 355–386 ). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
Revell G., Wehman, P., Sr Arnold, S. (1985). Supported work model of competitive employment for mentally retarded persons: Implications for rehabilitative services. In P. Wehman and J. Hill (Eds.), Competitive employment for persons with mental retardation: From research to practice (pp. 46–64). Richmond, VA: Virginia Commonwealth University.
Rosenbaum, M. S., and Drabman, R. S. (1979). Self-control training in the classroom: A review and critique. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 12, 467–485.
Rusch, F. R. (1986). Introduction to supported work. In J. Chadsey-Rusch, C. H. Hanley-Maxwell, L. A. Phelps, and F. Rusch (Eds.), School-to-work transition issues and models (pp. 36–57 ). Champaign, IL: Transition Institute, College of Education, University of Illinois.
Rusch, F. R., and Chadsey-Rusch, J. (1985). Employment for persons with severe handicaps: Curriculum development and coordination of services. Focus on Exceptional Children, 17 (9), 18.
Rusch, F. R., Sr Mithaug, D. E. (1980). Vocational training for mentally retarded adults. Champaign, IL: Research Press.
Rusch, F. R., Schutz, R. P., and Agran, M. (1982). Validating entry-level survival skills for service occupations: Implications for curriculum development. Journal of the Association for the Severely Handicapped, 7, 32–41.
Rusch, F. R., Martin, J. E., and White, D. M. (1985). Competitive employment: Teaching mentally retarded employees to maintain their work behavior. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 20 (3), 182–189.
Rusch, F. R., Mithaug, D. E., and Flexor, R. W. (1986). Obstacles to competitive employment and traditional program options for overcoming them. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 7–21 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Rusch, F. R., Chadsey-Rusch, J., and Lagomarcino, T. (1987). Preparing students for employment. In M. Snell (Ed.), Systematic instruction of persons with severe handicaps (pp. 471–490 ). Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.
Sailor, W., Halvorsen, A., Anderson, J., Goetz, L., Gee, K., Doering, K., Sr Hunt, P. (1986). Community intensive instruction. In R. H. Homer, L. H. Meyer, and H. D. Fredericks (Eds.), Education of learners with severe handicaps (pp. 251–288). Baltimore: Brookes.
Salzberg, C. L., Agran, M., and Lignugaris-Kraft, B. (1986). Behaviors that contribute to entry-level employment: A profile of five jobs. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 7, 299–314.
Salzberg, C. L., Likins, M., McConaughy, E. K., Lignugaris-Kraft, B., and Stowitschek, J. J. (1986). Social competence and employment of retarded persons. In N. Bray (Ed.), International review of research in mental retardation. (Vol. 14, pp. 225–257 ). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Schalock, R. L., Wolzen, B., Ross, I., Elliott, B., Werbel, G., and Peterson, K. (1986). Post-secondary community placement of handicapped students: A five-year follow-up. Learning Disability Quarterly, 9, 295–303.
Schutz, R. P. (1986). Establishing a parent-professional partnership to facilitate competitive employment. In F. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 289–302 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Seyfarth, J., Hill, J. W., Orelove, F., McMillan, J., and Wehman, P. (1987). Factors influencing parents’ vocational aspirations for their children with mental retardation. Mental Retardation, 25 (6), 357–362.
Shapiro, E. S. (1981). Self-control procedures with the mentally retarded. In M. Hersen, R. M. Eisler, and P. M. Miller (Eds.), Progress in behavior modification (Vol. 12, pp. 265–297 ). New York: Academic Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1974). About behaviorism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Stodden, R. A., and Boone, R. (1987). Assessing transition services for handicapped youth: A cooperative interagency approach. Exceptional Children, 53, 537–545.
Supported employment: What the data tell us. (Spring, 1988). Employment News. Eugene, OR: Specialized Training Program, University of Oregon.
Test, D. W., Grossi, T., and Keul, P. (1988). A functional analysis of the acquisition and maintenance of janitorial skills in a competitive work setting. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 13 (1), 1–7.
Valenta, L., and Rhodes, L. (1985). Industry-based supported competitive employment for persons with severe handicaps. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 10, 12–21.
Vogelsberg, R. T. (1986). Competitive employment in Vermont. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 35–49 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Wacker, D. P., and Berg, W. K. (1987). Generalizing and maintaining work behavior. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 129–140 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Wehman, P. (1986a). Supported competitive employment for persons with severe disabilities. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 17 (4), 24–29.
Wehman, P. (1986b). Competitive employment in Virginia. In F. R. Rusch (Ed.), Competitive employment issues and strategies (pp. 23–33 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Wehman, P., and Kregel, J. (1985). A supported work approach to competitive employment of individuals with moderate and severe handicaps. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 10, 3–11.
Wehman, P., Kregel, J, and Barcus, J. M. (1985). From school to work: A vocational transition model for handicapped students. Exceptional Children, 52, 25–37.
Wehman, P., Kregel, J., and Seyfarth, J. (1985, December). Employment outlook for young adults with mental retardation. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, pp. 90–98.
Wehman, P., Wood, W., Everson, J. M., and Parent, W. (1985). A supported employment approach to transition. American Rehabilitation, 11 (3), 12–16.
Wehman, P., Moon, M. S., Everson, J. M., Wood, W., and Barcus, J. M. (1988). Transition from school to work. Baltimore: Brookes.
Wehman, P. H., Kregel, J., Barcus, J. M., and Schalock, R. L. (1986). Vocational transition for students with developmental disabilities. In W. E. Kiernan and J. A. Stark (Eds.), Pathways to employment for adults with developmental disabilities (pp. 113–128 ). Baltimore: Brookes.
Will, M. (1984). OSERS programming for the transition of youth with disabilities: Bridges from school to working life. Washington, DC: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services ( OSERS ), U. S. Department of Education.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Martin, J.E., Mithaug, D.E., Agran, M., Husch, J.V. (1990). Consumer-Centered Transition and Supported Employment. In: Matson, J.L. (eds) Handbook of Behavior Modification with the Mentally Retarded. Applied Clinical Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2501-5_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2501-5_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-2503-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-2501-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive