The Overrepresentation of Students with Disabilities in Families with Neither Biological Parent

• In Event: 444 - Section on Disability and Society Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 02. Disability in the Family: Explanatory Models for Well-Being

Abstract

Using data from three waves of the 2002 Education Longitudinal Survey, I investigate the relationship between disability, non-parental family structure, and student outcomes. I find that, even after controlling for race, class, and other demographic characteristics, living without either biological parent continues to be a significant predictor of having a disability. To shed light on this finding, I outline the complex causal relationship that exists between non-parental family structure and disability status. An investigation of students’ adult incomes demonstrates that, as one might expect, having a disability and living with neither biological parent both negatively affect future income. However, a combination of disability status and student demographic characteristics explain the association between living in a non-parental household and lower income. This indicates that disability status partially moderates the relationship between living in a non-parental family and adult income. Having a disability, on the other hand, consistently predicted lower income.

Author

• Kendall LaParo, Temple University