Designing Statewide Strategies & Programs

Recommendations

Info

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability For Youth ●● ●● ●● ●● Some state and district officials raised the issue of the degree to which assessments and career development related activities were non-accessible for youth with significant disabilities. Many states do not purchase a vendor license to provide a single online career information system for all of their students, which hinders ePortfolio portability (e.g., when districts purchase their own subscription with a given vendor, the ePortfolio may not be accessible to students if they move out of district or after unless the school or college they attend also subscribes to the same vendor or the student purchases an individual subscription). Some districts or schools are using one or more of the existing vendors but not to the system’s full potential. Each CIS is proprietary, and therefore a state, organization, or personal subscription will be needed to gain access to the ePortfolio. An alternative is to transfer key information that is housed in a proprietary portfolio into a free access ePortfolio system (e.g., LinkedIn). CIS Implementation Strategies Engaging in the following activities can assist states in effectively leveraging CIS to support career development programming: ●● ●● ●● Consider supporting a statewide web-based CIS that offers an ePortfolio for residents of all ages to provide lifelong access to career development resources (e.g., selfexploration, career exploration, job search, resumes, career goals, etc.) (Solberg, Wills, & Larson, 2013). This will require changes in funding priorities and budgeting for system maintenance. Ensure that CIS design specifications conform to the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and those established by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to enable all youth to access career development tools and activities. In addition, ensure that the CIS specifications also conform to the three principles of universal design for learning: 1) multiple means of representation; 2) multiple means of action and expression; and 3) multiple means of engagement. Involve multiple state agencies in developing and implementing design specifications for web-based career information systems to ensure that a state contract meets the interests of different sectors and departments. If individual districts must pay for the system, provide them with a set of functional requirements they can use in bidding contracts (Solberg, Wills, & Larson, 2013). 44
Designing Statewide Career Development Strategies & Programs ●● ●● Establish quality expectations for these systems by ensuring that web-based vendors: 1) provide a range of valid and accessible interests, skills, and values assessments; 2) focus on helping students develop self-exploration, career exploration, and career planning and management skills rather than on making career choices; 3) make student ePortfolios accessible to students when they change schools or after they graduate; and 4) make timely updates to career information that reflect changes in the labor market (Solberg, Wills, & Larson, 2013). Consider integrating a web-based career planning process with an in-person facilitated discovery process for students with significant disabilities. Table 7. CIS Resources Standards The W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international standards for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 Standards Guide contains the standards for accessible technology. The National Center on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides guidelines and a framework to help educators and counselors reduce barriers and optimize levels of support for all learners. ACRP Career Information and Services Comparison Tool offers guidelines for helping states identify features that should be included in online career information systems. General Information State Career Information Delivery Systems (CIDS) by Encouragement Services, Inc. describes what career information systems are, their components, how they function, and what value they add to the career development process. Commercial Vendors Bridges | Career Cruising | CareerLocker | Discover – ACT, Inc. | intoCareers (consortium of 20 states) | Kuder | My Dream Explorer | Naviance | TypeFocus Careers | Wisconsin Careers 45
Page 1 and 2: Designing Statewide Strategies & Pr
Page 3 and 4: Designing Statewide Career Developm
Page 47: Designing Statewide Career Developm
Page 71: Designing Statewide Career Developm

Designing Statewide Strategies & Programs

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?