Intermediate Work Outcomes for Adolescents With High-Incidence Disabilities

Abstract

A longitudinal sample from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 was used to determine differences in work outcomes between (a) individuals with learning disabilities or emotional-behavior disorders and (b) individuals with or without disabilities. Twelve factors were arranged into individual, family, school-peer, and community categories. Individuals with high-incidence disabilities were more likely to be unemployed, whereas those without disabilities were more likely to be employed for 20 hr or more per week. A limited number of risk factors were significant contributors of work outcomes. Ordered logistic regression revealed individuals with high-incidence disabilities and all women experienced less positive work outcomes. Parental discussions with children about work plans enhanced the likelihood of positive work outcomes, but only for adolescents without disabilities.

Secondary Transition Predictors of Postschool Success: An Update to the Research Base

“…Parent expectations were identified as a research-based predictor of postschool employment. The addition of one a priori study (Rojewski et al, 2014) and three exploratory studies (Cmar, 2015;Simonsen & Neubert, 2013;Wehman et al, 2015) changed the level of evidence from promising to research-based for postschool employment. Effect sizes ranged from small to large.…”

“…First, they noted the need to disaggregate results by demographic categories (e.g., disability, race/ethnicity). Second, they noted many correlational studies were exploratory (i.e., hypotheses were not formulated prior to conducting analysis) and did not use rigorous designs (e.g., propensity score analysis [PSA]; Rojewski et al, 2014), limiting the extent to which they could contribute to the evidence base. Finally, they suggested future reviews should include studies that used databases beyond NLTS2.…”

“…Simonsen & Neubert, 2013; Wei et alstudies (Daviso et al, 2016;Rojewski et al, 2014); 1 exploratory study(Cmar, studies (Rojewski et al, 2014;Shogren et al, 2017); 1 exploratory study (Petcu et al…”

Aiming high, aiming low, not knowing where to go: Career aspirations and later outcomes of adolescents with special educational needs

“…In recognition of Gottfredson's boundary of tolerable effort (2005), as well as the notion of perceived costs in Eccles' expectancy-value model (Eccles & Wigfield, 2002) and in light of previous evidence 1999;Rojewski et al, 2014); we expect (1) that adolescents with SEN will have lower and more uncertain career aspirations than their peers without SEN. In consideration of previous evidence showing that career aspirations are not necessarily predictive of attainment in disadvantaged adolescents (Carter-Wall & Whitfield, 2012;Gutman & Akerman, 2008), we also postulate (2) that the association between career aspirations and later outcomes might be stronger for those without SEN, as they may have greater access to opportunities and be less likely to experience barriers to their aspirational fulfilment compared to those with SEN.…”

“…While the identification of SEN is intended to provide additional support for the student, it also results in labelling with the risks of negative stigma, feelings of inferiority and reduced expectations from teachers and parents (Cambell, Gilmore, & Cuskelly, 2003;Cross & Donovan, 2002;Norwich, 1992). Studies have shown that adolescents with learning difficulties not only have lower career aspirations (Rojewski, , 1999, they also experience significantly worse educational and employment outcomes compared to their peers without learning difficulties (Rojewski, Lee, & Gregg, 2014;Sanford et al, 2011).…”