COABE: “Are We on the Brink of Something Big?”

COABE’s most recent journal includes an article by Johan Uvin, now the president of the Institute of Educational Leadership, entitled, “Are We on the Brink of Something Big?  Reflections on the Current and Future State of Career Pathways Policy and Practice”.  In the piece, Uvin addresses some of the current challenges facing career pathways’ promise of providing greater equity and opportunity for all Americans.  He notes the following; bold text below is added.

One particular challenge that warrants much more attention than it has revceived to date is that not all of our programs and systems are designed to facilitate the participation of individuals with visible and invisiable disabilities.  With the exception of an investment in a handful of states by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, very little is known regarding the extent to which local career pathway programs facilitate the participation and success of persons with disabilities.  Stimulating innovation in how universal design principles can be used to create programs that will result in competitive employment for youth and adults with disabilities is one important next step for us to take collectively.  

Does this reflect the situation for career pathways in your communities?  What do you know about how your local career pathways programs support the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their programs?  What is still missing?  Your perspectives are what help to drive change.  Feel free to comment below, or reach out to me personally, at my email address.

Best,

Mike Cruse

Disabilities and Equitable Outcomes Moderator

michaelcruse74@gmail.com