This study examined responses from the Alabama Post-School Transition Survey to determine how students with and without disabilities compare in postschool outcomes. Responses provided information about the students' employment, residence, postsecondary education and training, barriers, perceptions of high school preparation, and interests and activities. Students with and without disabilities provided significantly different responses related to their personal interests and activities, postsecondary education and training, and residence. Students with and without disabilities provided similar responses to the questions related to high school preparation, employment, and barriers encountered since leaving high school. Implications of similarities and differences are discussed.
Alabama Department of Education. (n.d.). Rules of the Alabama State Board of Education, State Deparmtent of Education (CH. 290-8-9, Special Education Services). Montgomery, AL: Author.
2.
Baer, R., Flexer, R., Beck, S., Amstutz, N., Hoffmon, L., Brothers, J., et al. (2003). A collaborative followup study on transition . Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 26, 7-25.
3.
Blackorby, J., & Wagner, M. (1996). Longitudinal postschool outcomes of youth with disabilities: Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study. Exceptional Children, 62, 399-413.
4.
Browning, P.L. (1997). Transition in action for youth and young adults with disabilities. Montgomery, AL: Wells Printing.
5.
Conway, M. (2003/2004). Improving postsecondary education access and results for youth with disabilities. Impact, 13(Fall/Winter), 8-9.
6.
Dunn, C., Chambers, D., & Rabren, K. (2004). Variables affecting students' decisions to drop out of school. Remedial and Special Education, 25, 314-323.
7.
Flexer, R., Simmons, T., Luft, P., & Baer, R. (2005). Transition planning for secondary youth with disabilities . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson .
8.
General Accounting Office (GAO). (July, 2003 ). Special education: Federal actions can assist states in improving postsecondary outcomes for youth (Report to the Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, U.S. Senate; GAO-03-773). Washington, DC: Author.
9.
Gutmann, M., Pullum-Pinon, S., & Pullum, T. (2002). Three eras of young adult home leaving in twentieth-century America. Journal of Social History, 35, 533-576.
10.
Hasazi, S., Hock, M., & Cravedi-Cheng, L. (1992). Vermont's post school indicators: Using satisfaction and post school outcomes data for program improvement . In F. Rusch, L. DeStefano, J. Chadsey-Rusch, L. A. Phelps, & E. M. Szymanski (Eds.), Transition from school to adult life: Models, linkages, and policy (pp. 485-508). Champaign, IL: Sycamore.
11.
Haring, K., Lovett, D., & Smith, D. (1990). A follow-up study of recent special education graduates of learning disabilities programs. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 23, 108-113.
12.
Haveman, R., & Knight, B. (November, 1999). Youth living arrangements, economic independence, and the role of labor market changes: A cohort analysis from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Institute for Research on Poverty.
13.
Hill, C., & Holzer, H. (October, 2006). Labor market experiences and transitions to adulthood. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Institute for Research on Poverty.
14.
Horn, L., & Berktold, J. (1999). Students with disabilities in postsecondary education: A profile of preparation, participation, and outcomes. Education Statistics Quarterly, 1, 59-64.
15.
Kortering, L., & Braziel, P. (1999). School dropout from the perspective of former students: Implications for secondary special education programs. Remedial and Special Education, 20, 78-83.
16.
Kortering, L., DeBettencourt, L., & Braziel, P. (2005). Improving performance in high school algebra: What students with learning disabilities are saying. Disability Quarterly, 28, 191-203.
17.
Levine, P., & Nourse, S. (1998). What follow-up studies say about postschool life for young men and women with learning disabilities: A critical look at the literature. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 31, 212-231.
18.
Leuchovius, D. (2007). Post-school outcomes surveys: Coming soon to a student near you!Eugene, OR: University of Oregon, National Post-School Outcomes Center.
19.
National Center for the Study of Postsecondary Educational Supports. (2002, July). Briefing book and proceedings of the national summit on preparation for and support of youth with disabilities in postsecondary education and employment. Washington, DC: Author.
20.
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition and the Transition Coalition. (2003, April). Northwest passages: A Western Regional Resource Center forum on post-school outcomes . Portland, OR: Author.
21.
National Longitudinal Transition Study-2. (2001). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International. Office of Disability Employment, U.S. Department of Labor. (2003). Statistics about people with disabilities and employment. Washington, DC: Author.
22.
Shafer, M., & Rangasamy, R. (1995) Transition and native American youth: A follow-up study of school leavers on the Fort Apache Indian reservation. Journal of Rehabilitation, 61, 60-65.
23.
Sitlington, P., & Frank, A. (1998). Follow-up studies: A practitioner's handbook. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
24.
Sitlington, P., Frank, A., & Carson, R. (1992). Adult adjustment among high school graduates with mild disabilities. Exceptional Children, 59, 221-233.
25.
Smith, S. & Bost, L. (2007). Collecting post-school outcome data: Strategies for increasing response rate. University of Oregon: National Post-School Outcomes Center.
26.
Wagner, M., Cadwallader, T., & Marder, C. (with Cameto, R., Cardoso, D., Garza, N., Levine, P., & Newman, L.). (2003). Life outside the classroom for youth with disabilities. A report from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
27.
Wagner, M., Newman, L., Cameto, R., Garza, N., & Levine, P. (2005). After high school: A first look at the postschool experiences of youth with disabilities. A report of findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) and National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
28.
Wagner, M., Newman, L., Cameto, R., & Levine, P. (2005). Changes over time in the early postschool outcomes of youth with disabilities. A report of findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) and National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) . Menlo Park, CA: SRI International .
29.
Wehmeyer, M. (1996). Self-determination as an educational outcome: Why is it important to children, youth, and adults with disabilities? In D. J. Sands & M. L. Wehmeyer (Eds.), Self-determination across the life pan: Independence and choice for people with disabilities (pp. 17-36). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
