The CHANCE Program: A Pilot Occupational Therapy Vocational Program for Young Adults with Special Needs in Secondary Education

Abstract

ABSTRACT The pilot Choose to Help Animals that Need Care Everyday (CHANCE) Program, is an occupational therapy based vocational program intended to diversify vocational placements for young adults with special needs within the educational environment. This population often experiences difficulties transitioning from school to work. Workplace job experiences are essential to the development of the vocational, social and work ethic skills to acquire and maintain a job after graduation. More often than not, school initiated workplace experiences are restricted in their scope and diversity, and are often unrelated to the students’ interests and abilities. The CHANCE Program was piloted to offer students with special needs another opportunity in which to explore vocational possibilities linked directly to student interest by learning and mastering specific job skills related to the care of animals. Young adults with special needs ages 18 to 21 who attended a special education public school were evaluated using a 4-point scale that recorded verbal prompts and physical assistance while completing eight job tasks. Students showed improvements ranging from 1 to 6 points from their initial evaluation within the school setting to their final evaluation completed within the community work site demonstrating a transition of learned skills.