The Employment and Education of the Partially Sighted in the Period Immediately After Leaving Special School

Abstract

Initial results are reported of a major study undertaken to determine factors which could be used to predict employment success of partially-sighted school leavers. The sample involved 355 individuals from 13 schools for the partially sighted taken from three successive final academic years and followed up 1 year after leaving school. Questionnaire techniques were used, the response rate being 85.6%. Analysis revealed that 55.6% sought or experienced employment and 44.4% undertook further education. Eighty-seven per cent of those seeking employment obtained jobs alongside the normally sighted. Only 12 leavers remained totally unemployed. Forty-seven per cent were still in their initial employment.