JUMP INTO MY SHOES

THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM NEEDS A RESOURCE THAT ENHANCES ITS SCHOOL-TO-WORK TRANSITION GUIDANCE SERVICES WITHOUT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL WORK FROM ALREADY BURDENED TEACHERS. INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE TRANSITION SERVICES THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING. THIS PROJECT INVOLVES THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A MULTIMEDIA PROGRAM CALLED JUMP INTO MY SHOES THAT SIMULATES THE TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK.THE PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN THE WORKPLACE AND TO MEET WITH SUCCESSFUL ROLE MODELS. STUDENTS USING THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY ENGAGE IN THE CHOICES OF TRANSITION, MAKING KEY DECISIONS AND EXPERIENCING THE CONSEQUENCES. THE APPLICATION OF INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA AND SIMULATION TO TRANSITION GUIDANCE OFFERS SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, INCLUDING IMPROVED STUDENT AWARENESS OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASED ACCESS TO TRANSITION SERVICES, AND COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP THE JUMP INTO MY SHOES PROGRAM AND TO ASSESS ITS EFFECTIVENESS AS A TRANSITION GUIDANCE RESOURCE. DURING PHASE I, THE RESEARCH TEAM WILL DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE OF THE PROGRAM AND ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT BASED UPON AN EVALUATION BY INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.