The Experiences of Graduates with Disabilities Transitioning from Higher Education into Employment

Abstract

The inclusion of people with disabilities in the labor market strengthens personal development and equal participation in society. Acquiring a higher education in today's modern world increases the likelihood of integrating in the world of work. For people with disabilities, participation in the workforce is strongly dependent on obtaining a higher education. Consequently, enhancing participation in higher education is of great importance. Recognition of the importance of higher education has led to the development of support services for students with disabilities. Nevertheless, success with respect to including students with disabilities in higher education institutions has not yet yielded adequate success with respect to their transition into employment. Students with disabilities rarely acquire preparation to cope with the transition to the world of work. Therefore, the current study examined the experience of students with disabilities as they transitioned from higher education into employment. Method: The study used a qualitative-phenomenological research approach in which 15 graduates with disabilities from five different academic institutions in Israel were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed and encoded in a multi-stage analysis. Results: Analysis of transcripts revealed three main themes: (1) The meaning of the academic studies; (2) The transition into employment; (3) The participants' life journey as people with disabilities. In all three themes, interviewees stressed the development of self-determination skills, such as active conduct, assertiveness, and self-advocacy for integrating into various aspects of life. Discussion: The research findings can be used as a basis for recognizing the factors that influence the integration of graduates with disabilities into employment. A significant research finding is the importance of skills in self-determination to achieving life goals. The skills in self- determination are conceptualized as a mediator between the graduates' self-perceptions of being like everyone else and being different from the mainstream. The research emphasizes the need for intervention in academic settings to support students with disabilities in their transition from higher education into employment, with an emphasis on their development of skills in self- determination. This study raises awareness about occupational therapists' potential to contribute during academic integration and transitions to work