Practitioner tips to help learners with transition planning to employment

• Encourage learners to apply for job positions for which they have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at the level required by the employer. Suggest they use the Internet to gain knowledge about different jobs or visit a local employment center.
• Help learners to know their strengths, be able to describe them and identify how they relate to different kinds of work roles.
• Encourage learners to pursue informational interviews and on-site visits in order to get a feel for different workpla ce environments and job tasks.³⁰
• Identify vocabulary pertinent to reading to do tasks and assess learners' knowledge of the meaning of the vocabulary. If a word is not understood, teach its meaning first and then teach learners how to read the word.³¹
• Use actual reading materials that are used in the vocational program or on the job.
• Have learners request and review job descriptions before applying for positions.
• Address related transition issues like money management, transportation arrangements, interpersonal and communication skills, and time management.
• Provide information on how learners can handle their disabilities within the employment setting. For example, discuss the pros and cons of disclosing learning disabilities; explore how learners can integrate their strategies into the work environment; and know when and how to request appropriate accommodations.³²