Renee Punch

Career Development of Deaf and Hard of Hearingadolescents: Career Decision-making, Career Maturity and Perceivedcareer Barriers Renee Punch

In most English-speaking countries, increasingnumbers of children with significant hearing loss arebeing educated in regular classes with the support ofitinerant teachers of the deaf, rather than insegregated settings. The transition to highereducation and work is especially challenging forthese students. This book reports on an Australianstudy investigating the career decision-making ofdeaf and hard of hearing students in their last yearsof high school. The study identified potential careerbarriers as a key factor influencing the careerdecision-making of these students, and clarifiedunderstanding of the ways in which their socialparticipation and social self-concept interacted withtheir career decision-making. Its findings suggestedthat students with hearing loss in regular schoolsettings may be missing out on the specialized careerguidance they need to identify and address issues, concerns, and potential career barriers and tofacilitate a successful school-to-work transition. The book includes recommendations for careereducation and counselling interventions to benefitthe career development and school-to-work transitionof this population.