A survey of employers of persons with moderate mental retardation and review of a vocational curriculum

The purpose of this project was to determine the vocational skills employers of persons with moderate mental retardation required for successful employment and to evaluate the vocational curriculum at Burlington County Special Services School to determine if those same skills were being implemented. There was wide agreement regarding the importance of vocational education and the need for employers to provide information concerning skills needed for successful employment. The methodology employed in this project consisted of interviewing five employers of individuals with moderate mental retardation. A questionnaire was administered to determine the skills employers felt were important for schools to teach. A review of the vocational curriculum used by Burlington County Special Services was also completed for comparison of skills needed to skills being taught. From the information obtained from these employers and the curriculum reviewed, the research questions were answered. It was determined that the skills employers felt most important were communication skills, social skills, employability skills, listening skills, direction following and good work habits. These same skills were included in the vocational curriculum reviewed with the exception of social skills and communication skills. Although these two skills were taught during the day it would be helpful to include them in vocational lessons as well