An Evaluation of Risk Factors Related to Employment Outcomes for Youth With Disabilities

Abstract

This study explores non-modifiable risk factors associated with poor post-school competitive employment outcomes for students with disabilities. A classification tree analysis was used with a sample of 2,900 students who were in the second National Longitudinal Transition Study–2 (NLTS2) up to 6 years following school exit to identify groups of youth with poor employment outcomes based on characteristics that are unable to be modified through an intervention. Post-school employment was related to the disability characteristics of the student (disability type, ability to understand what is being said, general health status), family characteristics (yearly income, community setting), and youth characteristics (race).The classification tree analysis identified four groups of students who were at greatest risk for poor outcomes. Future research will be directed toward modifiable variables that mitigate risks for those groups that may potentially lead to school- and home-based interventions.