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Career guidance for learning-disabled youth

  • Charles P. Chen
  • Janice Chan
Article
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Abstract

Learning disabilities (LDs) describe a number of disorders that affect the way information is acquired, retained, organized, and understood. This article aims to address the critical issue of improving the career well-being of LD youth. It first examines several critical issues that affect LD high school students/youth in their career development. Then, some major career development and counselling theories are integrated into conceptualizing and analyzing the career issues and needs of this target group. Following these key theoretical insights, some career guidance and counselling intervention strategies are considered to help and enhance the vocational well-being of this target population.

Keywords

Learning-disabled (LD) LD students Career guidance 

Résumé

Conseil en orientation pour les jeunes présentant des troubles de l’apprentissage. Les troubles de l’apprentissage décrivent un certain nombre de difficultés qui affectent la manière dont l’information est acquise, retenue, organisée, et comprise. Cet article aborde la question critique de l’amélioration du bien-être professionnel des jeunes présentant de tels troubles. En premier lieu, plusieurs aspects cruciaux qui affectent le développement de carrière des jeunes/lycéens atteints de troubles de l’apprentissage sont examinés. Ensuite, différentes théories majeures en développement de carrière et orientation sont intégrées de manière à conceptualiser et à analyser les problèmes et les besoins professionnels de ce groupe spécifique. Sur la base de ces idées théoriques clés, des stratégies d’intervention en conseil et orientation sont proposées afin d’aider et d’augmenter le bien-être vocationnel de cette population cible.

Zusammenfassung

Berufsberatung für lernbehinderte Jugendliche. Lernschwierigkeiten (LS) beschreiben eine Reihe von Störungen, welche die Art und Weise beeinflussen wie Informationen erworben, behalten, organisiert und verstanden werden. Dieser Artikel möchte das wichtige Thema der Verbesserung des beruflichen Wohlbefindens von Jugendlichen mit LS angehen. Er untersucht zunächst einige kritische Themen, die Schüler/Jugendliche mit LS in ihrer Laufbahnentwicklung beeinflussen. Dann werden einige wichtige Laufbahn- und Beratungstheorien integriert um Laufbahn Themen und Bedürfnisse dieser Zielgruppe zu konzeptualisieren und zu analysieren. Aufgrund dieser grundlegenden theoretischen Erkenntnisse werden einige Strategien für Berufsberatung und Beratungsintervention zur Hilfe und Verbesserung des beruflichen Wohlbefindens dieser Zielgruppe betrachtet.

Resumen

Orientación profesional para la juventud con problemas de aprendizaje. Los problemas de aprendizaje (LDs) comprenden una serie de trastornos que afectan la forma de adquirir la información, conservarla, organizarla y entenderla. Este artículo pretende abordar la cuestión crítica de como mejorar el bienestar profesional de la juventud con dificultades de aprendizaje. Primero examina varios asuntos críticos que afectan a los alumnos de secundaria con problemas de aprendizaje en el desarrollo de su carrera. Luego, algunas de las principales teorías del desarrollo y la orientación profesional se integran para entender y analizar los problemas y necesidades de este grupo de alumnos. Tras esta perspicaz clave teórica, algunas estrategias de intervención en orientación profesional y asesoramiento se toman en consideración para ayudar y mejorar el bienestar profesional de este grupo de población.

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Notes

Acknowledgments

This article was supported in part by a Research Grant awarded to Prof. Charles P. Chen from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Standard Grant Program. Award No. 410-2009-2394.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Counselling Psychology Program, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)University of TorontoTorontoCanada

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