Transition Program: The Challenges Faced by Special Needs Students in Gaining Work Experience

Abstract

Transition program for special needs students is known to open opportunities for students with learning disabilities to gain work experience in actual work environment. The program provides training activities and also an opportunity to go for internship to gain work experience. Therefore, this study is to identify the challenges faced by special needs students in gaining work experiences during their internships. Two students were selected and trained to acquire work-related skills as preparation for their internships. Findings from this study revealed that, at the beginning of the internships, both of the students have to overcome several challenges, working in their respective work places. The students were having problem in adjusting to their new work environment, interacting with co-workers, understanding instructions and also displaying negative attitudes. Fortunately with the assistance from special education teachers, supervisors and co-workers, both special needs students have proven that they were able to gain valuable work experience at the end of their transition program.

Job Marketable for Student with Disability: What We Should Know for Career Transition Programme

“…The early career interventions within school settings have shown to improve work outcomes of youth with disabilities (Harvey, 2002;Scholl & Mooney, 2004)yet systematic and equitable career development service provision is lacking.The career transition programme (CTP) is an effort in providing initial training for students.CTP is defined as a combination of various activities based on the individual students' needs, their preferences and interests to bein line with the needs of the job market, including job development as a preparatory step to work after finishing school (Mohd Nasir, 2016). Therefore, CTP from school to work environment is conducted to train SWDs to acquire certain skills and gain work experience outside their learning environment (Alias, 2014). CTP is designed specifically for SWDs to enable them to practise and strengthen the skills needed to perform well in the real working world (Alias, 2014;Bernaldez, 2015).…”

“…Therefore, CTP from school to work environment is conducted to train SWDs to acquire certain skills and gain work experience outside their learning environment (Alias, 2014). CTP is designed specifically for SWDs to enable them to practise and strengthen the skills needed to perform well in the real working world (Alias, 2014;Bernaldez, 2015). Through the concept described, CTP is an ongoing process that provides SWDs to the real world of working life involving various parties such as schools, parents and employers.…”

“…For researchers who look into career issues for PWDs in Malaysia, it is agreed that career development for SWDs should be paid attention even at school level especially in education programmes that provide skills-training such as career transition programmes and others. Aliza through her research finds that PWDs faced difficulties in adapting to a new environment, have weakness in communication skills (including communication with employers, colleagues and customers as well as the difficulty in understanding the direction) and negative behavior in completing the assignment (Alias, 2014) Besides, social cognitive career theory based on Bandura's social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1999)is one of the most influential new approaches in career development. Although social cognitive career theory was not specifically developed to explain the school-to-work transition process, it offers a useful perspective from which to understand and support this transition.…”

“…In addition, SWDs were found to have less employability skills (Nasri et al, 2012). This is because the employability skills acquired by SWDs in vocational education are not necessarily able to fully meet the needs of employers (Alias, 2014). The lack of skills to meet the needs of the job market is then used as an excuse by employers to deny the opportunity for people with special needs to get a job (Nasri et al, 2012).…”

Employment Experiences among Young Malaysian Adults with Learning Disabilities

“…Increasing numbers of school leavers from special education programs from government-funded schools may also contribute to this positive change. Many programs have been started to improve the employability of these young adults at secondary schools and post-secondary schools [37][38][39]. The transition unit, which focuses on preparing students for employment, was established at the ministry level.…”