Students can gather experience in a wide-range of vocational fields, including video production, horticulture, secretarial skills and more, while earning a salary. This gives the student their first taste of what it's like to have a job, and allows him to learn talents at the same time. With this information in hand, a parent will be able to attend an IEP meeting knowing exactly what their child needs for the following year and whether they are entitled to the things they need. Transition planning involves time, learning and work. But, it allows a child to begin thinking about his or her future and gives the parent the skills they need to navigate the world of high school that they will soon encounter.
Many parents are unaware that vocational school can be an appropriate choice for their teens.
Some think of these schools as dumping grounds for students who have no motivation. But, for many teens with disabilities, vocational school can lead to a career or can be a building block to higher education. Students generally start attending vocational school when they are 14. Teens with learning disabilities, who struggle with academic subjects, can try their hands at a variety of trades, including computer graphics, culinary arts and video production. In some states, students attend vocational school in the afternoons after attending regular high school in the morning for basic academics.