Transition and Post-School Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities: Closing the Gapsto Post-Secondary Education and Employment

摘要

Despite advances in education, disability rights policy, the support of federalmandates, and increased funding of programs and initiatives that impact all youth, the post-school outcomes for far too many of our nation's youth and young adults are still poor. The current status translates not only into untapped talent and potential and unfulfilled dreams, but severely limits America's preparation of today's youth for full participation in tomorrow's society. This report brings attention to persistent issues and problems that various national studies on post-school outcomes document. The problems identified in this report are: (1) poor graduation rates from high school; (2) low employment rates after high school; (3) low post-secondary education participation; and (4) an increasing number of youth receiving Social Security benefits and not leaving the benefits rolls. The outcomes reported through statistics resonate to 30 years ago, prior to the benefit of federal laws and regulations. This report presents an analysis of research on the status of transition, post-secondary education, and employment outcomes for primarily 14 to 22 year old youth and young adults with disabilities over the past 25 years. Next it identifies what has worked, and what should work in light of unmet needs and unserved populations. Finally, the report presents recommendations for national, state, and local community action.