In 1999, a group of men embarked on a remarkable project that resulted in building a two million dollar youth centre in one of Melbourne's most disadvantaged communities. From the outset, Victoria University (VU) was a keen partner in the project. This project had key synergies with the current experiences of the University--a dual sector higher…

Ensuring effective progression from vocational qualifications to higher education has become an important issue internationally as a part of government strategies to raise skill levels and to provide more equitable access to tertiary level study. From September 2008, the Government in England has begun to introduce a new set of qualifications for…

The "All Means All School-to-Work Project" was a 3-year federally-funded collaborative between the Institute on Community Integration and the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning. The Project was dedicated to finding out what works for all learners when it comes to access, benefit, participation and choice within school-to-work…

This document describes the activities at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois, to recruit and train special needs students in academic and vocational programs. The final objective of the activities, begun in June 1988 and funded by a Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) grant, was that the students would leave the educational program…

This study analyzed data from a national survey of 1600 secondary school districts to determine the numbers and characteristics of handicapped youth as well as the types of programs offered by these districts related to the transition of youth from school to post school activities. Among the findings were: (1) access to traditional vocational…

This paper describes the problems that individuals with disabilities in South Africa have experienced in accessing educational and support services in the transition from school to work. It outlines needed changes, including making a paradigm shift, developing a new policy and legislative framework, building an inclusive education system and…

On August 1, 2006, Hawaii state educational and policy leaders participated in the Hawaii Education Forum to discuss ways to improve student transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The forum was sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and supported…

The final version of the School to Work Opportunities Act was passed only after an extended battle over how to protect individuals' private right of action to enforce the act. Although it still contains nonentitlement language, the final act also includes new language clarifying Congress' intent that the provision not preclude enforcement of the…

Over the past 20 years, major transformations have occurred in educational, social, political, and economic areas that continue to have an impact on the education and development of youth with disabilities and the institutions that support them. Approximately half of all students with disabilities in 2003-04 spent 80% or more of their day in a…

This paper examines characteristics of the hearing-impaired related to educational and employment potential and the college programs available to prepare them for employment. The deaf adult population suffers from unemployment caused by inadequacies in education and a host of non-educational factors, such as inadequate social adjustment, poor…

A survey of 100 Wisconsin secondary schools found that students with disabilities did not use a full range of vocational programs, that only 37 percent of students had participated in vocational assessment activities, and that half had vocational goals included in their Individualized Education Programs. Results are discussed in terms of access…

Two problems confront the school-to-work (STW) transition initiative: the quality of STW transitions and the equity with which those experiences are distributed among different student groups, including those with disabilities. In the past, the goals of equity and quality seemed to conflict. Many persons advocating increases in quality appeared to…

This final report describes activities and achievements of the EASE (Equal Access for Students to Education and Experience) Project, a 3-year model demonstration project on transition of students with disabilities at seven community colleges in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota. The program served 550-600 students and focused on providing support…

This paper is intended to promote discussion among professionals, policymakers, employers, parents, and individuals with disabilities concerning current and future challenges facing secondary education and transition services nationally. The issues identified and discussed should not, however, be viewed as inclusive of the full range of possible…

This bulletin provides guidance and direction to Missouri local education agencies (LEAs) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams regarding the U.S. Office of Special Education Program's findings that indicate Missouri students with disabilities were held to entrance requirements for vocational education programs without consideration of…