How Families and Community Members Can Support the MyCAP
How Families and Community Members Can Support the MyCAP
By Lauren Shoss & Amisha Kumar
Senior year, college applications, and guidance counselors automatically come to our minds when we hear career planning. Although these are vital parts of one’s path to their academic future, it is important to understand that students can prepare for career readiness right from middle school or even earlier, be involved in the process of identifying and mapping their career goals, and recognize the importance of the role of families and community members in supporting themselves.
What is the MyCAP [1]?
MyCAP stands for My Career and Academic Plan and is how the Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) is called in Massachusetts. It is a living document and student-focused academic planning tool designed to map students’ academic, career, and personal success. With help and consultation from an identified adult at school and further guidance from their parents/guardians, the students are in primary control of their plan. This format improves student engagement as it pushes students to identify their interests and set self-defined career goals that align with these interests.
For further information about MyCAP:
MyCAP Information for Students
Importance of the role of the family in a child’s career development
Research [2] suggests that parental involvement plays a significant role in children’s career development. According to the study commissioned by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), students who have parental involvement in their career planning and exploration are more productive at school in terms of engagement, flexibility/adaptability, and resilience in times of challenge or conflict.
Further benefits of familial involvement in the youth’s career planning highlighted in the research [3]:
- Career search confidence and advocacy
- Academic confidence and advocacy
- Connection with peers
- Management of academic stress
- Management of distress
- Academic motivation
- Interpersonal connection with teachers
How can families and caregivers support their children?
There are many ways in which families and caregivers can both, directly and indirectly, support students in self-exploration and discovery, as well as in career planning and exploration [3].
- Evaluate the skill development opportunities their youth is receiving. Youth should be given opportunities in the following domains [3]:
- The Job Search: CVs and Cover Letter writing, interview skills, sharing disability with prospective employers, and availability of external resources
- Development of community engagement and leadership skills: relationship building, taking initiatives, public speaking, and empathy
- Workplace skill development; collaboration, problem-solving, written communication, willingness to learn, etc.
- Exposure to workplaces to support students in developing goals relating to their interests and identifying needed accommodations, including field trips, internships, and paid work
- Financial literacy: financial goals, budgeting, management of personal finances
- Assist their youth in exploring various careers by [3] :
- Motivating the youth to seek employment,
- Organizing opportunities for the youth to visit workplaces and shadow/talk to individuals with whom the youth identifies,
- Learning the requirements for careers of interest,
- Encouraging youth to be open-minded and explore a variety of options, and
- Ensuring youth are supported in achieving their long-term career goals.
- Important things to keep in mind to support youth [4]:
- Consistent support is key, even as independence develops!
- Don’t be afraid to branch outwards. External support such as professionals, peers, and community resources can be beneficial. Assist schools in planning events that help increase youth’s access to information about careers.
- Learn about opportunities in your community that can provide youth with the chance to gain experience and develop skills. Schools may offer ILP activities.
- Youth with disabilities should develop a Summary of Performance with their IEP, including work experience and support recommendations.
- Integrate career exploration and skill development into day-to-day life!
- Considerations for families and caregivers of youth with disabilities
- Be mindful of how the disability may affect them throughout their careers
- Be aware of the resources available in your school, community, and beyond, such as those that can assist your youth in finding accommodations for work
- Be educated on your youth’s legislative rights, and advocate when you see something wrong. For more information on this, click HERE!
- For Massachusetts-specific resources and information regarding how to best support your youth, click here!
Families and caregivers play an integral role in fostering their youth’s development and growth in self-exploration, skill development, and career management and planning. It is important that families be supportive and caring every step of the way and do their part to ensure their youth is being provided with adequate opportunities to promote their growth and learning [4].
SOURCES
[1] Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. “My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP).” My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) – College, Career and Technical Education, https://www.doe.mass.edu/ccte/ccr/mycap/
[2] Solberg, V. S., & Gresham, S. (Forthcoming). Supporting transition readiness skills for students with disabilities: Identifying what quality learning experiences promote which self-determination indicators
[3] National Collaborative On Workforce and Disability For Youth. “Understanding the New Vision for Career Development: The Role of Family.” InfoBrief, no. 39, Mar. 2014, pp. 7–7.
[4] National Collaborative On Workforce and Disability For Youth. “The guideposts for success: A framework for families preparing youth for adulthood.” InfoBrief, no. 36, Sept. 2010.