Comparison of Postsecondary Transitional Outcomes Between Students With and Without Disabilities by Secondary Vocational Education Participation: Findings from the National Education Longitudinal Study

This study used data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988-1994 (NELS:88-94) to compare postsecondary outcomes between students with and without disabilities and participation in secondary vocational education. Differences in postsecondary outcomes are reported for four groups of students: (a) students with a disability who participated in vocational education in high school, (b) students with a disability who did not participate in vocational education in high school, (c) students without a disability who participated in vocational education in high school, and (d) students without a disability who did not participate in vocational education in high school. Students without a disability who did not participate in vocational education in high school are treated as the comparison group (reference category). Findings concerning predictor variables are reported and recommendations for practice and research in the area of transition are discussed in light of public policy and the new economy.

[1]  D. Egnor.  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1996 , 1996 .

[2]  Mary Wagner,et al.  Longitudinal Postschool Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities: Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study , 1996 .

[3]  P. Wehman.  Life Beyond The Classroom , 1995 .

[4]  L. Heal,et al.  Predicting Employment for Students Who Leave Special Education High School Programs , 1995 .

[5]  R. Lynch.  Redirecting Secondary Vocational Education toward the 21st Century. , 1994 .

[6]  J. Blackorby,et al.  Human Capital and Structural Explanations of Post-School Success for Youth with Disabilities: A Latent Variable Exploration of the National Longitudinal Transition Study. , 1993 .

[7]  A. Gajar.  Secondary Schools and Beyond: Transition of Individuals with Mild Disabilities , 1993 .

[8]  P. Sitlington,et al.  Adult Adjustment among High School Graduates with Mild Disabilities , 1992, Exceptional children.

[9]  R. Schalock,et al.  A Longitudinal Follow-Up of Graduates from a Rural Special Education Program , 1992 .

[10]  R. Gaylord-Ross,et al.  A Follow-along Study of Participants in a Longitudinal Transition Program for Youths with Mild Disabilities , 1992, Exceptional children.

[11]  E. Shapiro,et al.  Vocational-Technical Programs: Follow-up of Students with Learning Disabilities , 1991, Exceptional children.

[12]  P. Sitlington,et al.  Transition of Adolescents with Behavioral Disorders — is it Successful? , 1991 .

[13]  M. Wagner.  The Benefits of Secondary Vocational Education for Young People with Disabilities. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study of Special Education Students. , 1991 .

[14]  John M. Fourqurean,et al.  A Follow-Up of Former Special Education Students: A Model for Program Evaluation , 1991 .

[15]  Tom E. C. Smith,et al.  Differences in Transitional Needs of High School Students With and Without Learning Disabilities , 1990, Journal of learning disabilities.

[16]  P. Sitlington,et al.  Are Adolescents with Learning Disabilities Successfully Crossing the Bridge into Adult Life? , 1990 .

[17]  A. Frank.  Adult Adjustment of Recent Graduates of Iowa Mental Disabilities Programs. , 1990 .

[18]  L. Gordon,et al.  Employment of Youth with and without Handicaps Following High School , 1989 .

[19]  Michael W. Harvey,et al.  An Investigation of Employers and Educators Perceptions of Entry-Level Worker Skills and Employment Characteristics: Implications for Programming. , 1989 .

[20]  E. Edgar.  Secondary Programs in Special Education: Are Many of Them Justifiable? , 1987, Exceptional children.

[21]  A. Mori,et al.  Teaching Secondary Students With Mild Learning and Behavior Problems: Methods, Materials, Strategies , 1985 .

[22]  J. Hensel,et al.  Postsecondary Vocational Adjustment of Rural, Mildly Handicapped Students , 1985, Exceptional children.

[23]  L. Gordon,et al.  Factors Associated with the Employment Status of Handicapped Youth Exiting High School from 1979 to 1983 , 1985, Exceptional children.

[24]  D. Mithaug,et al.  A Report on the Colorado Statewide Follow-up Survey of Special Education Students , 1985, Exceptional children.