Discovery is a process used to get to know a student. Information about the student’s interests, strengths, environments or activities where they are at their best, supports that are effective for them, and present levels of performance, is gathered through a series of activities, interviews and observations. The process of Discovery intends to answer the question “who is this student” and provides direction to all career development activities. Information is gathered from people who know the student well. The person conducting the Discovery spends time at the student’s home and at school, in the community with the student, observing the student in familiar activities as well as unfamiliar activities.

Information gathered through the Discovery process is then captured in a written format called the Vocational Profile for the purposes of sharing the information for job development. This information and picture of who the individual student is guides the selection or creation of school and community-based jobs. It is offered as an alternative strategy to more traditional or standardized forms of vocational evaluation.

Steps to Discovery

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