The Role of Vocational Education and the Young Special Needs Child

Abstract

Vocational education improves the quality of caregiving for the young special needs child in several ways: (a) Vocational education is a vehicle to train child care staff who work with the young special needs child; (b) vocational education is an ancillary service that provides child care for single parents who are enrolled in vocational education programs; and (c) vocational education trains future parents who may have a young special needs child. This article illustrates the relationship between vocational education and early childhood special education. The article outlines curriculum used in teaching child care, the purpose of the program, and the training experiences students enrolled in child care programs receive.