Speaker:
Catherine Moran, Consultant, Transition Assessment and Education, Viable Vocations

Session Description:

As schools and adult-service systems increasingly emphasize rapid job placement, vocational evaluation is often misunderstood as optional or reserved only for students with complex needs. In reality, vocational evaluation remains one of the most effective tools for developing individualized, evidence-based employment plans, leading to better post-school outcomes.

This session is designed for transition specialists, special educators, vocational rehabilitation professionals, employment specialists, administrators, and related service providers supporting youth and young adults with disabilities.

Participants will explore how comprehensive vocational evaluation provides meaningful information beyond interest inventories by integrating assessment data, observations, interviews, environmental analysis, and real-world work experiences into employment planning.

Participants will learn practical strategies for determining when a vocational evaluation is appropriate, interpreting findings to guide employment decisions, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and using emerging AI tools responsibly to enhance, not replace, professional judgment throughout the vocational evaluation process.

Key questions addressed:

• Why does Vocational Evaluation still matter?
• What is being lost when Vocational Evaluation is absent?
• How does Vocational Evaluation improve employment outcomes?
• How can AI strengthen, not replace, Vocational Evaluation practice?
• How can schools and employment agencies realistically implement stronger Vocational Evaluation practices?