APPLICATIONS TO TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

THIS THREE PHASE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST DISABLED STUDENTS IN TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK BY PROVIDING TWO NEW MICROCOMPUTER-BASED PROGRAMS TO REHILITATION SPECIALISTSIN THE WISCONSIN DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SPECIAL SERVICES UNIT WHICH ANNUALLY EVALUATES AND SCREENS OVER 700 YOUNG HANIDCAPPED PERSONS SEEKING TO LEAVE SCHOOL AND ENTER THE WORKPLACE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP REHABILITATION COUNSELORS REMOVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENTBY PROVIDING TIMELY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDENTS AND BY AUTOMATICALLY SEARCHING OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION DATA BASES FOR LISTINGS OF JOBS WHICH THESE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO PERFORM. BOTH KINDSOF INFORMATION ARE IMPORTANT ASSETS TO REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS, BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN USED SYSTEMATICALLY WITHTHE OTHER. THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO (1) INSTALL BOTH SYSTEMS, (2) PROVIDE COMPREHENSICHVE AND INTEGRATED TRAINING ON T THEIR USE, AND (3) CONDUCT BOTH PROCESS AND OUTCOME EVALUATIONS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE SYSTEMS ON THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUCCESS. PHASE II IS PLANNED TO EXPAND BOTH INSTALLATION AND EVALUATION WHILE WISCONSIN-SUPPORTED PHASE III INVOLVES STATE-WIDE IMPLEMENTATION, SHOULD THE RESULTS MERIT IT.