Youth with Learning

Youth with learning disabilities and behavioral disorders face significant barriers to academic and vocational success and are at risk for poor school perfor-mance, high unemployment rates, and poor socioeconomic status. This paper describes the development and results of the first year of a model program in-tended to promote science, engi-neering, and technology careers and address academic and vo-cational needs of low-income youth with disabilities. The program’s first year results pro-vide preliminary evidence for its effectiveness and demonstrate the need for future rigorous study in this area. Implications for vo-cational programs are discussed