Career aspirations and workplace expectations among youth with physical disabilities

Abstract

Purpose

Youths with disabilities have lower employment rates than youths without disabilities, which are often a result of inaccessible environments, employer’s lack of knowledge about people with disabilities and discriminatory attitudes. Exploring youths’ career aspirations is important because it can prompt or hinder career planning, and contribute to youths’ preparation for adult life. The purpose of our study was to explore the career aspirations and workplace expectations of youths with physical disabilities.

Method

We drew on qualitative discussion forum data from a larger study focusing on employment preparation e-mentoring intervention for youths with physical disabilities. Our sample comprised 44 youths aged 15–25 years (mean age 18.9, 47% female) with physical disabilities. We analyzed the data using a qualitative, content analysis approach.

Results

Youths described several areas that helped to develop their occupational capacity including self-advocacy, pursuing post-secondary education, volunteering/co-op, family support, and social networks. Areas where youths anticipated encountering occupational constraints involved: transportation, attitudes and discrimination, physicality of work and self-care, communication skills, and finding work or volunteer positions. Youths’ expectations for the workplace included: disability disclosure and requesting accommodations, and a respectful environment.

Conclusions

Our findings highlighted that youths with physical disabilities had diverse career aspirations that are shaped by various occupational capacities and constraints.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Youth with physical disabilities may need further support with accessing and navigating public transportation independently to gain employment, and also developing their communication skills, specifically how to disclose their condition to employers and coping with potential discrimination.

• Clinicians and educators should help youth with disabilities to gain exposure to a variety of career options (including STEM) while supporting them to find accessible positions that are compatible with their abilities.

• Clinicians and educators could consider helping to foster self-advocacy skills among youth with disabilities which are needed to disclose their condition and request accommodations.

Keywords:

• Physical disability
• employment
• career aspirations
• workplace expectations
• youth

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the staff, students, and volunteers in the TRAIL lab who contributed to this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The first author holds a career award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.