Preparing College Students With Disabilities for Employment: Disability Service Professionals' Perspectives

• In Event: Interrogating the Experiences of Understudied Student Populations

Abstract

Although a college degree is associated with positive employment outcomes, employment gaps persist between college graduates with and without disabilities, and little is known about how institutions of higher education address the specific employment needs of students with disabilities. This qualitative study investigated how institutions within one state system prepare students with disabilities for employment, from the perspective of disability service professionals. Findings emerging from focus group (n = 14) and interview data (n = 7) indicated that (a) offices of disability resources serve as hubs for students with disabilities; (b) collaboration between career and disability services requires more than good relationships; and (c) the COVID-19 pandemic spurred rocky transitions and unanticipated benefits. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Authors

• Elisabeth Kutscher, The George Washington University
  Presenting Author

• Maxine B. Freund, The George Washington University
  Presenting Author

• Karly Ball, The George Washington University
  Presenting Author