Article Details
| Citation: | Awsumb, J., Schutz, M., Carter, E., Schwartzman, B., Burgess, L., & Lounds Taylor, J. (2022). Pursuing Paid Employment for Youth with Severe Disabilities: Multiple Perspectives on Pressing Challenges. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 0 1-18. |
| Title: | Pursuing Paid Employment for Youth with Severe Disabilities: Multiple Perspectives on Pressing Challenges |
| Authors: | Awsumb, J., Schutz, M., Carter, E., Schwartzman, B., Burgess, L., & Lounds Taylor, J. |
| Year: | 2022 |
| Journal/Publication: | Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities |
| Publisher: | Sage |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1177/15407969221075629 |
| Full text: | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15407969221075629 |
| Peer-reviewed? | Yes |
| NIDILRR-funded? | Yes |
Structured abstract:
| Background: | The road to employment begins in high school. However, few youth with severe disabilities currently participate in paid employment before graduation. |
| Purpose: | The purpose of this study was to map the breadth of barriers that can hinder youth from accessing this influential transition experience. |
| Study sample: | We held individual (n = 8) and focus group (n = 16) interviews with 74 transition stakeholders, including parents, educators, adult agency staff, school district leaders, and local employers. |
| Findings: | Collectively, they identified 47 barriers falling within eight broad categories of challenges: school, student, family, workplace, service system, partnership, transportation, and community. Although there were areas of clear consensus, noticeable differences were evident in the concerns raised by each of these five stakeholder groups. |
| Conclusions: | We present recommendations for research and practice aimed at connecting more youth with severe disabilities to early work experiences that can change their post-school employment trajectories. |
| Disabilities served: |
Autism / ASD Developmental disabilities |
| Interventions: |
Transition services Employment opportunities expansion |