Promoting the Involvement of Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Career and Vocational Planning and Decision-Making: The Self-Determined Career Development Model

Abstract

The authors examined the effectiveness of a support model to instruct five youth with EBD to self-direct the problem-solving processes and promote self-determination skills by enabling them to: (a) set employment/career related goals, (b) develop and implement a plan toward goal attainment; and (c) adjust and evaluate progress toward meeting their goals. Participants chose individualized employment goals and worked through the model as a support to planning, implementing, and attaining their goals. An AB design was used to evaluate goal achievement. The results revealed that all participants made progress toward each of their goals. Additionally, all participants reported that they achieved their target goals and were satisfied with the support that the model provided. Results support the potential utility of the model in promoting self-determination skills and increasing positive employment outcomes for youth with EBD.