Americans with a disability are substantially less likely to be employed than those without a disability. Among those with a disability who are employed, additional layers of inequality have been established, including wage differences and access to benefits. Education is generally viewed as a pathway to professional work with good wages,…

Background: The literature places special focus on the quality of life (QoL) of individuals with disability and on their self-determination and social and work participation. The field of vocational guidance also considers the satisfaction these individuals experience concerning their future crucial to their QoL. At the same time, however, persons…

A review of the literature and a bibliography are provided on employment and the quality of adult life for individuals with disabilities. The literature review examines the concept of quality of life in general as well as quality of life assessments among populations with specific handicapping conditions. This is followed by a list of over 800…

Students with disabilities face a variety of challenges that extend beyond the classroom, as they are often behind their peers in social and life skills. As they exit their secondary education programs they are often ill prepared to meet the multi-dimensional demands of the work place. According to the United States Department of Labor (2011),…

The Index of Least Restrictive Employment is a vocational assessment instrument for use with individuals with disabilities. It focuses on job security, opportunity for advancement, job satisfaction, planning, earnings, and integration aspects of transition. The index is intended to provide a means of measuring the movement from more to less…

This guide examines the evolution of human services systems toward the recognition that individuals with handicaps can make consumer choices and should be included in decision-making sessions. Consumers with disabilities are seeking empowerment through their presence and participation in political processes and community events. Choices regarding…

One of the desired outcomes of transition planning for students with disabilities is to enable the students to lead a quality adult life. This report contains a literature review which outlines recent approaches to addressing quality of life issues, including conceptualizations, methodologies, and ethical concerns. A field inquiry report…

This publication provides statistical information from a nationwide survey of 1,000 Americans with disabilities, aged 16 and older, that was conducted in April and May of 1998. It is designed to provide comprehensive and up-to-date measures in a number of areas, including: (1) the nature and severity of the disability; (2) participation in…

This study examined issues related to retention or attrition of paraeducators in structured interviews with 21 paraeducators who had either stayed or left their jobs. Findings addressed: (1) length of time paraeducators stayed on the job; (2) primary reasons for taking a job as a paraeducator; (3) difficulties with low pay; and (4) issues related…

Satisfaction with pay, promotions, coworkers, supervision and work conditions of 236 workers with disabilities was examined. Analysis indicated strong dissatisfaction with pay and mild dissatisfaction with promotions. Participants in transition programs which incorporated best practices were more satisfied with their work and with the social…

Thirty-six North Dakota rehabilitation counselors were surveyed to examine the relationship between burnout and expectations about selected job factors. Results indicated that burnout is negatively related to current job expectations, and positively related to job expectations at the time of initial employment and to changes in expectations.…

A survey of 73 Indiana staff members in early intervention found that staff members were more likely to receive professional benefits such as inservice training than personal benefits such as medical insurance. Levels of job satisfaction and job commitment were relatively high. Salary emerged as a primary source of concern, along with promotion…

This report is based on interviews with learning supporters and observations of their work in a number of primary and secondary schools in London and in the North of England, areas which are known for efforts toward developing inclusion. The focus is on supporters' perspective, and the aim is to give a platform to what traditionally have been…

This study used path analysis to examine the effects of work-related factors--including principal support, stress, role problems, job satisfaction, and commitment--on 542 Virginia special educators' expressions of intent to stay in teaching. The study concluded that these work-related variables should be included in strategies for retaining…

Evaluation of job-related tension as perceived by 52 New Zealand rehabilitation service providers found a positive relationship between job tension and general psychological distress, a negative relationship between self-esteem and both job tension and distress, and a moderating effect of positive self-esteem on effects of job tension. (Author/DB)