Keys to Promoting Career Readiness and "Life Support" for High School Students and Young Adults

Phyllis Scott, MS, CCC-SLP discusses how individuals with mild to moderate language impairment and emotional regulation deficits face employment challenges linked to an inability to deal with the emotional demands of the workplace, postsecondary settings, home, and community. She explores the complexity of challenges, impact on quality of life, graduation rates and incarceration. Case study examples demonstrate the need for speech-language pathology intervention to focus on communication skills needed to transition to adulthood. Phyllis describes “life support” that SLPs can incorporate into therapy goals as well as collaboration with other professionals to help prepare students for expectations beyond high school.