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Choose the right vocational program and focus your time and energy on your field of study. Enroll now at Career step to learn.

"In the U.S. higher education system, students are challenged to declare a major or choose an occupation in their sophomore year in college, sometimes even before starting college. That's an onerous task, especially if done without sufficient self-knowledge or guidance. Perhaps that is why at least 60% of college students change their major at least once before graduating and, on average, students change their major three times during their college career. Many graduate, even begin work, and find that they have made a poor vocational choice. That's discouraging and costly for both students and their parents. Such a situation is less likely to occur at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, where career counseling, using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Step II combined with the Strong Interest Inventory, provides students with effective, empowering guidance."

FEBRUARY 19, 2010 │ VOLUME 4, ISSUE 6 In This Issue: Quinn Outlines Plans to Streamline GED Process WIB Suspends New Licensing Policy Nancy Giles to Emcee 2010 Awards Reception Spotlight on Opportunity Award Winners Albany Lobby Day is March 9! Vocational Conference Introduces Foster Youth to New Opportunities Obama Defends ARRA As Administration Steps Up Job-Creating Programs Workforce Marketplace

For learning to occur, younger students in particular often need to experience learning in a way that is meaningful to them. Teaching about careers to these students can be challenging especially since the concept of a career represents an aspect of human development which is far off in the future and associated with something that is "adult-like." The idea of a vocation or career represents a certain level of abstractness that students may not be developmentally ready for. Teaching middle and high school students about careers through activities and games may serve as the perfect conduit as students naturally like to learn while being active and engaged.

"Developing employment opportunities for individuals with difficult backgrounds can be extremely challenging, especially in today's economy. Even when these candidates have strong vocational skills, many have difficulty finding or keeping good jobs. They just can't get along with their coworkers, won't listen to their supervisors, seem unwilling to follow common sense expectations. Why is this, and what can we do to help?"

Autism is a spectrum disorder. Behavioral symptoms or characteristics for autism can be present from mild to severe (Rapin, 2008, p.1129). Often the following terms or labels are used to describe our loved ones: autistic, autistic-like, high-functioning or low-functioning. A person with autism usually has problems interacting, communicating and showing restrictive, repetitive, or ritualistic behaviors, interests and activities. The important point to remember is our loved ones with autism can learn, make progress and may grow up to function productively with an appropriate education, benefits, support and services.