A Study of career information for students with special educational needs (II)
Researcher-in-charge: Ji-Yeon Lee
This is the second year of study with the results of the first basic research in a continuous line with the second year study. Considering that students with disability have little access to career information and even what is available is low in both quality and quantity, the aim of this second year study was to develop specific case studies of career information for students with special educational needs, and to explain the approach in generating career information to suggest a model of generating career information and facilitating dissemination and expansion of the information on a continuous basis with reference to the related national policy.
The output of this study included a volume of case studies of career information, covering information on 30 occupations and a volume on school admission information on 34 colleges. Moreover, a model of continuously generating career information, and of promoting dissemination and expansion of such information is proposed.
The study established 6 basic directions to be applied in producing occupational information, based on which it suggested 4 stages of approaching generating occupational information. In addition, the study identified 6 basic principles guiding the generation of information on school admission, based on which 4-stage framework of approaching school admission information.
The study suggested a policy model of generating career information on an on-going basis, and facilitating dissemination and expansion of the information. And the following is suggested: Generation, dissemination and expansion of career information for students with special educational needs should be made a top policy priority in national agenda so as to support these students realize continuous career development and quality of life with self-reliance. And, to this end, the policy goals should be directed at accumulating career information in a sustainable, systematic manner that meets the demands and needs of disabled students before providing the information to individual schools.
At the national level, such policies are expected to result in improvements in equality and accessibility of career information, increased occupational research for people with disability, and build-up of career guidance information and materials for special education teachers. For individuals, students will gain a better understanding of the circumstances around them, enhance their career decision-making ability and responsibility, and, in a longer run, they will be supported to 'prepare for' and 'adopt to' a successful life through introduction to self-reliant life and on-going career development. The most essential expected outcome of this policy would be to motivate all the students with disability to make efforts and challenge to realize their vision based on 'informed' decisions.
