Vocational Rehabilitation Strategies to Enhance Early Career Development for Young People with Disabilities

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Research Summary

At-a-Glance

The choices young people make in their late teens and early twenties impact their earning potential and work opportunities for the rest of their lives. This study provides concrete strategies for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselors to better prepare young adults with disabilities to find, keep, and advance their employment.

Key Findings

Barriers to career advancement for a young person with a disability are:

Lack of work experience in high school, as well as lack of self-confidence and limited work goals
Not obtaining competitive employment directly after high school and not maintaining stable employment over time
Insufficient access to ongoing training and support to gain skills and advance on the job
Discrimination and prejudice in the workplace

VR Counselors can help youth with disabilities build a solid foundation of work experiences and skills that will increase their opportunities for high wage employment. Strategies to do this include helping youth develop their unique skills and abilities, broadening career exploration activities, developing work opportunities, giving opportunities for postsecondary education and training, preparing youth to grow in their jobs, and advocating for change in the workplace.

Put It Into Practice

Tips and tools to help you apply best practices at work.

Specific interventions include:

Help youth develop their unique skills and abilities

Provide instruction in adaptability skills such as problem solving, goal setting, and time management
Discuss disability awareness and accommodations that may be needed
Teach and help youth practice proactive communication, self-advocacy, and self-determination skills

Broaden career exploration activities

Help youth identify their unique strengths and interests, using self-assessment tools
Give youth opportunities to engage in career exploration activities

Develop work opportunities

Collaborate with education partners to provide school and community-based work experiences, as early as possible
Carefully consider person-environment fit in job placement
Focus on obtaining work that requires a higher skill level

Give opportunities for postsecondary education and training

Explore options for postsecondary education and training
Assist youth to complete required steps to apply and enter programs
Encourage youth to use college disability supports and accommodations

Prepare youth to grow in their jobs

Facilitate youth access to role models and mentors
Recommend affinity and peer support groups
Use assistive technology and other accommodations

Advocate for change in the workplace

Inform employers of disability laws and policies
Encourage employers to be inclusive in their hiring, retention, and promotion practices

More About the Research

Young adults with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed, under-employed, or living below the poverty line than their peers without disabilities. This article synthesizes research from the fields of vocational rehabilitation, counseling psychology, and special education to illustrate the early career development of young adults with disabilities. It focuses on their career development process and barriers to career advancement, and provides strategies to enhance early career development.

Learn More

Lindstrom, L., Kahn, L., & Lindsey, H. (2013). Navigating the early career years: Barriers and strategies for young adults with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39, 1-2.