Navigating the early career years: Barriers and strategies for young adults with disabilities

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Young adults with disabilities in their early career years face limited access to high wage/high skill jobs, barriers in the workplace, and inadequate opportunities for career retention and advancement. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this literature review was to examine the process of career development for young adults with disabilities entering the workforce and document strategies for vocational rehabilitation counselors to facilitate career advancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using the online databases Academic Search Premier, ERIC, and PsychInfo. Key words for the search included the terms: disabilities, emerging adulthood, young adults, career advancement, vocational development, and early career. Articles included in this review met the following criteria: (a) published in peer reviewed journals in or after the year 2000, (b) findings addressed either processes, barriers, or strategies for emerging adults with disabilities entering the workforce. RESULTS: Major barriers to career advancement include: a) lack of work experience and restricted aspirations, b) sporadic patterns of early employment, c) limited access to postsecondary education and training, and d) discrimination and prejudice in the workforce. Strategies to enhance early career development included: a) developing individual attributes and skills, b) broadening the range of careers explored, c) creating initial work experience opportunities, d) obtaining postsecondary education/training, e) providing supports to facilitate advancement on the job, and f) advocating for changes in the workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Using an ecological framework to impact individual skills, create training opportunities, and enhance work place environments, rehabilitation counselors can help young adults with disabilities gain equal access to career options and ultimately achieve economic independence and stability.