2. Career Paths

2.1 Link to Whole-Life Planning

Link to Whole-Life Planning-Career planning starts with whole-life planning. Using the communication ideas described earlier (See 1.3: Assessing Satisfaction with Supports), the person can be supported to choose a career that matches his/her life dreams and goals, capabilities, and needs. This career choice develops over time rather than in "one shot". The person needs a chance to try out the career to see if the reality matches the dream. If one career is not a match, the whole-life planning team supports the person to identify another. Rather than just a short-term job to pay the bills, the person seeks a life career. In this way, the person can avoid being placed in jobs that are unrelated to her/his dreams and capabilities resulting in frustration.

2.2 Career Advancement Opportunities

Career Advancement Opportunities-A career path is a process. A person can start at an entry-level job that matches his/her skills in the chosen career. Then, the person can move up into a more skilled job with more pay as her/ his skills develop. Each person can also identify which career benefits are important. Maybe one person would like an employer to pay for time off to go to training classes. Paid vacation, wellness, bonuses, or childcare could be important to someone else. Part of career path planning is to find out how people, working in the career the person desires, typically advance. A Job Placement Specialist can research what opportunities potential employers offer for career advancement. The Vocational Profile includes a strategic plan where the team checks progress in areas such as career advancement periodically once a person is employed. A self-advocate Steering Committee member sums it up by saying, "A person doesn't want the job to stay the same forever. A person wants to grow and add responsibility and get promoted. A person wants direct honest feedback so they can get better."

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