What it is? Young people with developmental disabilities should be actively involved in activities that will expose them to and offer the opportunity to practice not only the actual skills needed for a particular career, but also the work readiness skills needed to find and maintain employment.

What it looks like? Career exploration activities, including career interest assessments, job shadowing, job and career fairs, and workplace visits and tours; career-related goal setting and planning; internships; work experience, including summer employment; information on entrepreneurship; networking activities; mock interviews; work readiness workshops; visits from representatives of specific industries to speak to youth participants about the employment opportunities and details of working within their industry; mock job searches, including locating positions online and in the newspaper, "cold-calling," preparing resumes, and writing cover letters and thank-you letters; visits to education or training programs; job coaching or mentoring; and, learning activities using computers and other current workplace technology.

At the bottom of this page have a link back to YD/YL 101 or onto the next area Leading .