A comparative study of five groups of handicapped children in vocational rehabilitation.

This study explored the vocational and educational plans, work values, realism, initiative commitment to choice, and awareness of occupational information of five groups of handicapped children compared with a group of normal children in grades 6--12. Handicapped children tested significantly lower on all measures of vocational development. Only the cystic fibrosis group approached the high scores of the normal group. Age, grade, and social class were the best predictors of vocational development in all six groups. The findings confirmed the hypothesis that handicapped children are less prepared for vocational training and placement and consequently require special rehabilitation programs to prepare them for work.