Academic Preparation of Adolescents With Disabilities for Postsecondary Education

Abstract

This study assesses the preparation of high school students with disabilities for postsecondary education. Transition planning information for 110 students from Grades 10 through 12 was reviewed. We found that (a) interest in attending postsecondary education declined from 77% to 47% over a 3-year period, (b) only four students had 4-year plans leading to postsecondary education, and (c) students were not enrolled in college preparatory classes or were transferred from college preparatory classes despite the students' expressed interest in postsecondary education. Recommendations are presented to address the continuing problem of preparing students with disabilities for postsecondary education.

Postsecondary Educational Aspirations of High-Functioning Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Parents

“…Furthermore, approximately one third of the youth with and without learning disabilities hoped to attain a college degree. Similarly, in their study of adolescents with a range of disabilities, Hitchings, Retish, and Horvath (2005) found that in 10th grade, 77% of their sample were interested in attending postsecondary education; however, the percentage of youth with this aspiration declined over time. It is clear from this previous research that a substantial proportion of youth with disabilities aspire to postsecondary education.…”

Predictive Factors of Participation in Postsecondary Education for High School Leavers with Autism

“…They found that academic achievement was identified by their participants to be the obstacle. Although the importance of improving academic achievement to facilitate the movement from high school to post-high school for students with disabilities is mandated by IDEA (Public Law 108-446 2004), students with disabilities are not academically well prepared for postsecondary education by their schools (Hitchings et al 2005).…”

Who Is Going to College? Predicting Education Training From Pre-VR Consumer Characteristics

“…However, some researchers are concerned that transition services are inadequate. For example, Hitchings, Retish, and Horvath (2005) investigated 110 secondary students with disabilities, of which, 77% expressed interest in attending college while in the 10th grade. After 3 years, interest in college dropped to 47%, only 4 students had 4-year transition plans for college, and most students had not taken college preparatory classes (Hitchings et al, 2005).…”