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Involvement of students and adult employees into the decisions that affect their education and employment can improve their transition into supported employment. One means for increasing involvement into these decisions is to gain their input into performance evaluations and support needs. The Job Observation and Behavior Scale: Opportunity for Self-Determination is an assessment designed to obtain such input from the perspective of students preparing for, and employees participating in, supported employment. This article presents the role of the scale in obtaining student and employee input into their own work performance and support needs; it summarizes the development and technical properties of the instrument; and it describes how this instrument can promote the self-determination of students and adult employees with disabilities.

Recent federal legislation has mandated a concerted effort to normalize the lives of handicapped and disadvantaged persons by enhancing opportunities for vocational development and work adjustment. Public school programs have been charged with the expansion of regular vocational services to accommodate individuals with special needs. In addition, postsecondary vocational training agencies have also expanded their efforts to make programs more accessible for this clientele.Effective preparation of special needs trainees for employment has been highly correlated with work attitudes and worker personality characteristics. Positive attitudes toward work have been identified as integral components of the work evaluation, work adjustment, and vocational training processes which lead to successful employment (

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