ERIC Number: EJ963559
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-May
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2165-1434
EISSN: N/A
Community Conversations: An Approach for Expanding and Connecting Opportunities for Employment for Adolescents with Disabilities
Trainor, Audrey A.; Carter, Erik W.; Swedeen, Beth; Pickett, Kelly
Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, v35 n1 p50-60 May 2012
Although early work experiences can impart a number of benefits to adolescents with disabilities, few students have meaningful access to these opportunities. The authors examined "community conversations" to build capacity and interest in expanding employment opportunities. Events were held in seven different communities and used the World Cafe process (Brown & Isaacs, 2005) to facilitate asset-based identification of localized next steps. Observations, analyses of surveys completed by the 239 community members who attended, and examination of artifacts suggested that the events offer a promising avenue for identifying solutions, building social capital, and increasing employment opportunities. The authors offer recommendations for drawing on this approach to harness and build the capacity of communities to support youth in transition, along with directions for future research. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Disabilities, Adolescents, Employment Opportunities, Social Capital, Employment, Work Experience, Partnerships in Education, Surveys
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2814
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R324S060023