1. InfoUse Careers for Youth with Disabilities: Increasing Opportunity and Choice Prepared by: Lita H. Jans Tanya Temkin Lewis Kraus Susan Stoddard Funded by: National Institute for Disability and Rehabilation Research (NIDRR) ED-01-CO-0127

2. InfoUse Obstacles in school-to-work transition for youth with disabilities An estimated 8 million youth with disabilities (ages 12-21) face particular obstacles when moving into employment (US Dept of Ed, 2000) Over 1/3 students in special education leave high school before graduating (Marder & D’Amico, 1992) Only 57% of youth with disabilities are competitively employed 3 years after high school, compared to 69% youth in general population (Wagner, Blackorby, Cameto, et al, 1993)

3. InfoUse Barriers to employment/career exploration Employers, teachers, & others may expect less of youth with disabilities Students may have lower expectations of themselves Students may be “pigeonholed” into certain jobs Students may lack awareness of options (including how often people with disabilities successfully employed and in which fields) Students may lack information about potential careers (e.g. job outlook) Absence of role models – people with disabilities working successfully in chosen careers who are willing to share their experiences

4. InfoUse Examples of jobs with excellent outlook (faster than average growth projected through 2008) Surveying technicians (Job cluster: Engineers, scientists & related) Telecommunications equipment mechanics, installers, repairers (especially those who know Centrex or PBS) (Job Cluster: Construction, mechanical, industrial) Financial managers with computer software expertise (Job cluster: Business, financial & admin services) Computer programmers (Job cluster: Computers)

5. InfoUse Role models for youth with disabilities Presents actual people with a range of different disabilities and representing different ethnic groups, working in all the major job clusters Components: – –Interactive CD ROM, for use in the schools and at home – –Instructional guides and exercises to supplement CD ROM – –Web site, including interviews with role models – –Videos by career cluster- can be used to educate employers and other professionals about success of adults with disabilities at work