The paper reviews problems in the sheltered workshop concept and proposes a change of focus in the provision of occupational life preparatory services for individuals with severe disabilities. Among problems cited are a lack of efficient production and training technologies, a lack of trained community placement personnel, and a general lack of tasks or activities for work. In addition, the paper asserts that sheltered workshops have not placed enough emphasis on competitive employment nor have they expressed much interest in working with severely disabled persons. A transition approach is advocated which defines environmentally based programming on a cluster analysis of actual work roles. Such an approach produces outcomes in career development, (including awareness, exploration, and self assessment), prevocational areas (such as work habits and employability skills), and vocational areas (work skills and behavior). (CL)