Youth's Role in Employment and Career Planning

As a youth, you should be at the center of employment planning and leading your career planning process. You need to be encouraged and supported to take an active role in this process. You can lead by taking an active role in activities such as:

• Participating in or leading your own IEP meetings.
• Drafting your Educational Development Plan (EDP) and postsecondary goals (the goals about what you want in your adult life).
• Talking about career options that match your interests and skills.
• Choosing courses in school that prepare you for your postsecondary life (the life you want when you leave school).
• Participating in extracurricular activities relevant to your interests.

It is important for all people to communicate what they want and don’t want in their life. Because it can sometimes be difficult for youth to determine what they want to do “when they grow up,” a good starting point can be a discussion about their interests, preferences, and dreams. At this stage, age- appropriate transition assessments are helpful for developing measurable postsecondary goals.

For example, there may be a need to do career exploration through career- related activities at school or with other organizations. Youth may schedule a visit with their local Career and Technical Education (CTE) center to learn about trades. Then, the youth may be ready to identify potential jobs in which they may be interested. It may also be helpful to use a process called “Person-Centered Planning” to help develop the youth’s vision. With the help of a facilitator, this process gives the youth an opportunity to share their hopes and dreams for the future with the important people in their life. The whole team can work together to develop an action plan to move the youth toward their vision.

You can use the "I'm Determined" toolset to assist in the employment planning process. Use the One-Pager, Good Day Plan, and Goal Plan to help you uncover your talents, advocate for yourself, achieve your employment goals, and overcome challenges.

Learn how to use the "I'm Determined" Tools.

Creating opportunities for choices and preferences at an early age encourages decision-making skills. Early participation in the IEP process prepares youth for their expected participation at age 16, when the IEP transition planning process officially begins.

Youth may start exploring post-school options while they are still in school. This may include developing a portfolio of interests and experiences, visiting college programs, volunteering, job shadowing at a worksite, or contacting a disability agency to apply for services.

One of the most helpful activities that youth can pursue while still in school is a paid or unpaid work experience, such as a summer job, an internship, or a volunteer position.

Research shows that youth who have some type of work experience during high school are more likely to get and keep a job after high school and earn more money after they leave school. This is where networking with family, friends, neighbors, teachers, and local businesses can help with identifying work possibilities in the local community. The youth will have the opportunity to learn work habits and new skills, as well as develop self-confidence and make friends in the workplace.