A system of task analysis and positive reinforcement was used in the vocational training of a 19-year-old trainable retarded youth (MA=6 years). The task of polishing shoe skates was analyzed and programmed into 29 steps and was reinforced with praise and money. The trainee learned the task in 13 sessions (approximately 1 month) and was employed at a skating rink for 6 months. Although a gradual increase in the number of errors resulted in the trainee returning to the sheltered workshop, results indicated that with proper techniques trainable retardates are capable of learning more than it was traditionally assumed. (LS)