Career counseling in secondary schools is important for all students, but it is especially critical for students with learning disabilities. This digest describes how making developmental career counseling a focus in secondary schools contributes to the success of youth with learning disabilities in post-school employment. These students show patterns of thinking and behavior that are alterable through cognitive intervention. In cognitive instruction, counselors and teachers provide clear explanations and models of behaviors and thinking that students may not be able to develop spontaneously, with problem-solving and other complex thinking skills having a central place. Although the development of career counseling programs can be carried out by local school jurisdictions, successful programs backed by research, such as "Pathways" (Hutchinson and Freeman, 1994), are recommended for helping teachers and counselors enhance the career readiness of youths with learning disabilities. Cognitive interventions that are effective with adolescents with learning disabilities are listed, followed by specific examples of activities from the "Pathways" program. (RB)