The significance of employment as a goal for young people with recorded Special Educational Needs

Abstract

This paper considers the significance and validity of employment as a goal for young people with special educational needs. It begins by discussing the salience of employment as a key stage in the transition to adulthood. Drawing on an SOED‐funded study of the post‐16 experiences of young people with special educational needs, perceptions of the importance of employment held by young people and their parents are explored. These are contrasted with the views of professionals. The paper concludes that, in line with the aspirations of the young people, preparation for employment should be regarded as one of a number of valid educational objectives. However, the employment prospects of young people with special educational needs are currently bleak and are affected by a range of factors including the personality of the young person, the nature of their disability, the degree of family support and the availability of employment as well as the quality of their educational experience. Employment prospects are only likely to improve if positive action is taken, such as the enforcement of the quota scheme for the employment of disabled people, which is widely ignored by employers. The importance of tackling the structural problem of unemployment is also underlined.