Age-Appropriate Career Education and the Expanded Core Curriculum

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Career education includes the knowledge and skills children and youth learn to successfully progress from school environments to adult roles, including postsecondary education or training, employment or work-related activities, and independent living. 

Career education for children and adolescents with blindness or low vision should begin as early as possible. Topics include career awareness, career exploration, career preparation (developing vocational and job-seeking strategies), and career or job placement. Finally, career education should also include ongoing mentorship, self-determination training, and information on how to keep a job through effective communication and adapting to workplace culture. 

Age Levels and Key Focus Areas 

• Early Childhood 
  • Foundational knowledge: Teach awareness of one’s environment, following routines, early organizational skills (sorting, matching). 
  • Introduce good work habits: putting away belongings, taking turns. 
  • Role-play “community helper” scenarios (e.g., pretend mail carrier, chef) to spark imagination and career curiosity. 

• Elementary School 
  • Personal responsibility: self-care, managing possessions, simple chores. 
  • Group and independent work skills; using basic tools. 
  • Strengths exploration: personality traits, values, and how they relate to career interests 

• Middle School 
  • Refine academic, social, and recreational interests. 
  • Begin volunteering or getting paid work experience; gather realistic feedback from supervisors. 
  • Introduce informational interviews with local professionals (in person or virtually). 

• High School 
  • Build on work experiences; refine technical, social, and self-management skills. 
  • Develop an individualized course of study or action plan for postsecondary training. 
  • Offer mock interviews and résumé workshops to practice job-seeking strategies. 

Why It Matters 

• Early and repeated work experiences significantly predict adult employment success. 
• Youth with blindness or low vision face unique challenges. Addressing them early boosts independence and opportunities to turn their challenges into strengths. 
• Students who receive career education in school have higher employment rates after graduation. 

Career Development Stages 

1. Awareness 
   • Sighted peers learn by observation; children with blindness or low vision need structured sensory tours and verbal descriptions to build environmental awareness. 

2. Exploration 
   • Hands-on experiences are critical. Use virtual job simulations, precise verbal explanations, and career-focused field trips. 

3. Preparation 
   • Offer volunteer work, job shadowing, and paid part-time roles. 
   • Teach public transit navigation, ride sharing, or other options for transportation. 

4. Placement 
   • Early work access combats misconceptions and builds confidence. 
   • Develop employer partnerships to create inclusive internship programs. 

How TVIs and O&M Specialists Can Help 

• Integrate career themes into lessons (e.g., use braille literacy to write interest/value lists). 

• Role-playing in preschool: practice being the parent, teacher, doctor, or police officer. 

• During O&M, describe community environments, window displays, attire, and employee tools. Discuss business and employment opportunities while navigating the community. 

• Connect students with adult role models who are blind or low vision. 

Embedding Career Education in Schools 

• Include career goals in your child’s IEP. 

• Assess strengths/needs and plan age-appropriate activities: online research, volunteering, job shadowing, and mentorship. 

• Develop networks of professionals to serve as mentors and showcase workplace accommodations. 

Frequently Asked Questions