As groundbreaking legislation redefines transition practices and ideal employment outcomes for young people with disabilities, professionals need practical, up-to-date guidance on helping young adults achieve competitive, integrated employment. The new edition of this classic bestseller is your complete guide to facilitating individualized, person-centered work experiences for high school students and young adults with a range of disabilities.
The first book that clearly explains how to effectively apply the requirements of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), The Way to Work gives you the knowledge you need to adhere to the new rules and leverage new opportunities to benefit youth in transition. You’ll also get the latest on critical topics covered in the first edition, from determining student strengths and needs to recruiting employer partners and designing positive work experiences.
Informed by the author’s three decades of experience promoting the employment success of people with disabilities, this reader-friendly guide is a must-have for transition professionals, special educators, and other professionals supporting young adults as they begin a long and fulfilling career.
GET NEW GUIDANCE ON HOW TO- Navigate the newest federal legislation on transition to work
- Apply principles of the latest transition models
- Plan workplace accommodations with employer participation
- Address recent wage regulations
- Involve families in planning work experiences
SUPPORT THE WHOLE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS: Assess students' strengths, needs, and interests * Recruit employer partners * Design work experiences that benefit both employer and employee * Help students decide when and how to disclose a disability * Promote students’ social skills * Guide students in advocating for work accommodations * Facilitate workplace mentorship for young people * Collaborate with families and professionals to support the work experience
PRACTICAL MATERIALS: You'll get planning organizers, interview guides, worksheets, and other downloadable forms to help you put recommended strategies into practice.
Richard G. Luecking, Ed.D., is the President of TransCen, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Rockville, Maryland, that is dedicated to improving education and employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Dr. Luecking has held this position since 1987, when he was charged by the Board of Directors as the organization's first employee to create improved linkages between schools, employment service providers, government, business, and families so that youth with disabilities experience improved post-school employment outcomes. During his tenure with the organization, he and his TransCen colleagues have been responsible for the design and implementation of numerous model demonstration and research projects related to school-to-work transition and employment of people with disabilities. He is the author of a range of publications on related topics, including the book, The Way to Work: How to Facilitate Work Experiences for Youth in Transition (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 2009).
Meredith Gramlich, M.A., has worked with TransCen, Inc., since 1992 in a variety of capacities helping youth and adults with disabilities find successful career opportunities. She has worked throughout Maryland to facilitate business education partnerships and collaboration among disability service providers in their business partnering efforts. Ms. Gramlich has contributed to expanded customized employment opportunities for people with disabilities who access MontgomeryWorks, Montgomery County’s One Stop Career Center. She has also written and contributed to a number of publications about business–education partnerships, customized work opportunities for people with disabilities, and workplace mentoring.
