Employment Opportunities for College Graduates with Disabilities: A Step Forward
Main Article Content
Keywords
employment, college, students
Abstract
Since data show that students with disabilities graduate from college at the same rate as their nondisabled peers, it is time to examine employment of recent graduates. Here we report on a trend toward higher levels of employment for college graduates who were integrated into "regular" educational settings since the 1990s. To illustrate this phenomenon, we summarize our findings of a study on graduates with and without disabilities at three Canadian junior/community colleges.
References
AQICEBS (recently renamed AQICESH: Association québécoise inter-universitaire qui regroupent les conseillers pour les étudiants en situation de handicap). (2006). 2005 AQICEBS follow-up survey: Follow-up on university graduates with special needs. QC, Quebec: Université Laval.
AQICEBS (recently renamed AQICESH: Association québécoise inter-universitaire qui regroupent les conseillers pour les étudiants en situation de handicap). (2009). Annexe: Évolution 2004-2009. QC, Quebec: Université Laval. Retrieved from http://aqicesh.ca/docs/DocStats09_10.pdf
Bell, D. & Heitmueller, A. (2009). The Disability Discrimination Act in the UK: Helping or hindering employment among the disabled? Journal of Health Economics, 28(2), 465-480.
Beresford, P. (1996). Poverty and disabled people: Challenging dominant debates and policy. Disability and Society, 11(4), 555-567.
Bouchard, F. & Veillette, D. with the collaboration of: Arcand, G., Beaupré, A., Brassard, S., Fichten, C.S., Fiset, D., Havel, A., Juhel, J.C., & Pelletier, A. (2005). Situation des étudiants ayant des incapacités dans les cégeps : Rapport des travaux du comité [Students with disabilities in the Cegeps: Committee’s report]. Drummondville, Québec: Office des personnes handicapées du Québec.
CADSPPE (Canadian Association of Disability Service Providers in Postsecondary Education). (1999). Towards developing professional standards of service: A report on support for students with disabilities in postsecondary education in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.cacuss.ca/resources/publications/standards.htm
Canadian Council on Learning. (2009). Strategies for overcoming barriers to training and education for Canadians with disabilities. Retrieved from
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/10_07_09.pdf
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD). (nd). Second set of supplemental tables for CCSD's Disability Information Sheet #3, 1993, 1995, 1998): Percent not in the labor at any point during the year (1993, 1995, 1998), persons with and without disabilities, by age and highest level of education attained (not enrolled as full time students). Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/drip/research/supp3b.htm
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD). (2002). CCSD's Disability Information Sheet. Number 4. Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/drip/research/dis4/index.htm
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD). (2004). Workers with disabilities and the impact of workplace structures. CCSD's Disability Information Sheet Number 16. Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/drip/research/drip16/drip16.pdf
Conference Board of Canada. (2009). Education and skills: University completion. Retrieved from http://www.conferenceboard.ca/HCP/Details/education/university-completion.aspx
Dugas, L., & Guay, C. (2007). La participation sociale des personnes handicapées au Québec : le travail. Proposition d’une politique gouvernementale pour la participation sociale des personnes handicapées [Social participation of people with disabilities in Quebec: In the workplace. Proposition of a government policy for the social participation of people with disabilities]. Québec: Office des Personnes Handicapées du Québec (OPHQ), Canada. Retrieved from http://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/bs1762553
Dumont, C. (2003). L'identification des facteurs qui vont favoriser la participation sociale des adultes présentant des séquelles de traumatisme cranio-cérébral [Identification of the factorsthat facilitate social participation of adults with sequels due to traumatic brain injury]. Thesis, Université Laval, Retrieved from http://www.theses.ulaval.ca/2003/21106/21106.html
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Social Services Ministers. (1998). In unison: A Canadian approach to disability issues - A Vision Paper.
Hull, Quebec, Canada: Human Resources Development Canada. Cat. No.: SP-113-10-98E Retrieved, from http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/socialpolicy/poverty-citizenship/income-security-reform/in-unison
Fichten, C. S., Asuncion, J. V., Barile, M., Robillard, C., Fossey, M.E., & Lamb, D. (2003). Canadian postsecondary students with disabilities: Where are they? Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 33(3), 71-114.
Fichten, C.S., Bourdon, C.V., Creti, L., & Martos, J.G. (1987). Facilitation of teaching and learning: What professors, students with a physical disability and institutions of higher education can do. Natcon, 14, 45 69.
Fichten, C.S., Jorgensen, S., Havel, A., & Barile, M. (2006). College students with disabilities: Their future and success. Final report presented to FQRSC. Montréal: Adaptech Research Network, Dawson College. (ERIC Education Resources Information No. ED 491 585).
Government of Canada. (1996, October). Equal citizenship for Canadians with disabilities: The will to act: Federal Task Force on disability issues. Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Canada.
Hainard, F. (2003). Mécanismes d'intégration et d'exclusion sociale par le travail dans un environnement économique et social en mutation [Mechanisms of integration and exclusion through work in a changing economic and social environment]: Résumé des principaux résultats [Summary of the main results]. Retrieved from http://www.snf.ch/SiteCollectionDocuments/nfp/nfp51/NFP51_Modul4_f.pdf
Horn, L., & Berktold, J. (1999). Students with disabilities in postsecondary education: A profile of preparation, participation and outcomes. (NCES 1999-187). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education - National Center for Education Statistics.
Hubka, D., & Killean, E. (1996). Employment opportunities for postsecondary students and graduates with disabilities: A national study. Ottawa: National Educational Association of Disabled Students.
Human Resources Development Canada. (2003). Disability in Canada: A 2001 profile. Human Resources Development Canada. Retrieved from http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/RH37-4-4-2001E.pdf
Jorgensen, S., Fichten, C. S., Havel, A., Lamb D., James, C., & Barile, M. (2003). Students with disabilities at Dawson College: Success and outcomes. Final report presented to PAREA. Étudiants ayant des incapacités au Dawson College : Réussite et avenir. Rapport final présenté à PAREA. ERIC (Education Resources Information Centre) ED481553.
Jorgensen, S., Fichten, C. S., Havel, A., Lamb, D., James, C., & Barile, M. (2005). Academic performance of college students with and without disabilities: An archival study. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 39(2), 101-117.
Kapsalis, C. (1999). The effect of disabilities on literacy skills. Nepean, Ontario: Data Probe Economic Consulting Inc.
Kierstead, A.G., & Hanvey, L. (2001). Special education in Canada. Perception - CCSD's Magazine, 25(2). Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/perception/252/specialed.htm
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. (2006). Employment profile: A summary of the employment experience of 2004–2005 college graduates six months after graduation. Retrieved from http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/ser/167066/2004-2005.pdf
National Science Foundation. (2010). Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering. Retrieved from series web site http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/disability.cfm
Nichols, F. (1998, June). L'après-cégep: Insertion professionnelle. Taux d'activité et de chômage en fonction des études postsecondaires et des incapacités [Post-Cegep: Professional integration. Employment and unemployment rates related to postsecondary studies and disabilities]. Presentation at Rencontre de notre 10e année de rencontre avec les répondants [Presentation at the 10th meeting of the disability service providers]. Cégep du Vieux Montréal, Québec.
Office des Personnes Handicapées du Quebec. (1984). On equal terms: The social integration of handicapped persons. A challenge for everyone. Drummondville, Quebec: Author.
Oliver, M. (1990). The Politics of Disablement: A Sociological Approach. London: McMamillan.
Outcomes Group. (1998). 1998 outcomes of former students with disabilities: BC college and institute student outcomes report. Available October 16, 2012, from http://outcomes.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/Libraries/DACSO_Special_Reports/Disabled_pdf.pdf
Nova Scotia Department of Education. (2008). Nova Scotia longitudinal follow-up: Post-secondary leavers with disabilities. Halifax, NS: Author.
Shier, M., Graham, J. R., & Jones, M. E. (2009). Barriers to employment as experienced by disabled people: A qualitative analysis in Calgary and Regina, Canada. Disability and Society, 24(1), 63-75.
Statistics Canada. (2001). Labor force activity for adults without disabilities, by sex and age groups, Canada, 2001 (Table 4). Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-587-x/t/th/t4/4067725-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2003). Table 3.1: Labor force activity for adults with disabilities, by sex and age groups, Canada and provinces, 2001 (Table 3). Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-587-x/t/th/t3/4067722-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2005). Study: Chronic unemployment. The Daily, Sept 6, 2005. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/050906/dq050906a-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2008a). Participation and activity limitation survey 2006: Tables (Part III). Catalogue no. 89-628-X no. 008. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-628-x/89-628-x2008008-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2008b). Participation and activity limitation survey 2006: Labor force experience of people with disabilities in Canada. Catalogue no. 89-628-X no. 007. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-628-x/89-628-x2008007-eng.pdf
Statistics Canada. (2010). Section 2: Determining labour force status. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/71-543-g/2010001/part-partie2-eng.htm
Stodden, R. A., & Dowrick, P. W. (2000). Postsecondary education and employment of adults with disabilities. American Rehabilitation, 22, 19-23.
Taylor, H. (1998). Americans with disabilities still pervasively disadvantaged on a broad range of key indicators. The Harris Poll, 56, October 14, 1998. Retrieved from http://nod.org/about_us/our_history/annual_reports/1998_annual_report/
United Nations. (2006). Annex I - Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=199
United States Government Accountability Office. (2009). Higher education and disability: Education needs a coordinated approach to improve its assistance to schools in supporting students. Report to the Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives. Washington: author. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1033.pdf
Wagner, M., Newman, L., Cameto, R., & Levine, P. (2005). National longitudinal transition study-2 (NLTS-2): Changes over time in the early postschool outcomes of youth with disabilities. Washington, DC: Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.nlts2.org/pdfs/str6_completereport.pdf
WCG International Consultants Ltd. (2004). Recruitment and retaining persons with disabilities in British Columbia research project: Final research & validation report. Retrieved from www.eia.gov.bc.ca/epwd/docs/researchreport.pdf
Wessel, R. O., Jones, J.A., Markle, L., & Westfall, K. (2009). Retention and graduation of students with disabilities: Facilitating student success. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 21(3), 116-125.
Wolforth, J. (2006). Follow-up questionnaire results of 2002-2003 McGill University graduates. Montréal: Office for Students with Disabilities, McGill University.
AQICEBS (recently renamed AQICESH: Association québécoise inter-universitaire qui regroupent les conseillers pour les étudiants en situation de handicap). (2009). Annexe: Évolution 2004-2009. QC, Quebec: Université Laval. Retrieved from http://aqicesh.ca/docs/DocStats09_10.pdf
Bell, D. & Heitmueller, A. (2009). The Disability Discrimination Act in the UK: Helping or hindering employment among the disabled? Journal of Health Economics, 28(2), 465-480.
Beresford, P. (1996). Poverty and disabled people: Challenging dominant debates and policy. Disability and Society, 11(4), 555-567.
Bouchard, F. & Veillette, D. with the collaboration of: Arcand, G., Beaupré, A., Brassard, S., Fichten, C.S., Fiset, D., Havel, A., Juhel, J.C., & Pelletier, A. (2005). Situation des étudiants ayant des incapacités dans les cégeps : Rapport des travaux du comité [Students with disabilities in the Cegeps: Committee’s report]. Drummondville, Québec: Office des personnes handicapées du Québec.
CADSPPE (Canadian Association of Disability Service Providers in Postsecondary Education). (1999). Towards developing professional standards of service: A report on support for students with disabilities in postsecondary education in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.cacuss.ca/resources/publications/standards.htm
Canadian Council on Learning. (2009). Strategies for overcoming barriers to training and education for Canadians with disabilities. Retrieved from
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/10_07_09.pdf
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD). (nd). Second set of supplemental tables for CCSD's Disability Information Sheet #3, 1993, 1995, 1998): Percent not in the labor at any point during the year (1993, 1995, 1998), persons with and without disabilities, by age and highest level of education attained (not enrolled as full time students). Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/drip/research/supp3b.htm
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD). (2002). CCSD's Disability Information Sheet. Number 4. Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/drip/research/dis4/index.htm
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD). (2004). Workers with disabilities and the impact of workplace structures. CCSD's Disability Information Sheet Number 16. Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/drip/research/drip16/drip16.pdf
Conference Board of Canada. (2009). Education and skills: University completion. Retrieved from http://www.conferenceboard.ca/HCP/Details/education/university-completion.aspx
Dugas, L., & Guay, C. (2007). La participation sociale des personnes handicapées au Québec : le travail. Proposition d’une politique gouvernementale pour la participation sociale des personnes handicapées [Social participation of people with disabilities in Quebec: In the workplace. Proposition of a government policy for the social participation of people with disabilities]. Québec: Office des Personnes Handicapées du Québec (OPHQ), Canada. Retrieved from http://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/bs1762553
Dumont, C. (2003). L'identification des facteurs qui vont favoriser la participation sociale des adultes présentant des séquelles de traumatisme cranio-cérébral [Identification of the factorsthat facilitate social participation of adults with sequels due to traumatic brain injury]. Thesis, Université Laval, Retrieved from http://www.theses.ulaval.ca/2003/21106/21106.html
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Social Services Ministers. (1998). In unison: A Canadian approach to disability issues - A Vision Paper.
Hull, Quebec, Canada: Human Resources Development Canada. Cat. No.: SP-113-10-98E Retrieved, from http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/socialpolicy/poverty-citizenship/income-security-reform/in-unison
Fichten, C. S., Asuncion, J. V., Barile, M., Robillard, C., Fossey, M.E., & Lamb, D. (2003). Canadian postsecondary students with disabilities: Where are they? Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 33(3), 71-114.
Fichten, C.S., Bourdon, C.V., Creti, L., & Martos, J.G. (1987). Facilitation of teaching and learning: What professors, students with a physical disability and institutions of higher education can do. Natcon, 14, 45 69.
Fichten, C.S., Jorgensen, S., Havel, A., & Barile, M. (2006). College students with disabilities: Their future and success. Final report presented to FQRSC. Montréal: Adaptech Research Network, Dawson College. (ERIC Education Resources Information No. ED 491 585).
Government of Canada. (1996, October). Equal citizenship for Canadians with disabilities: The will to act: Federal Task Force on disability issues. Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Canada.
Hainard, F. (2003). Mécanismes d'intégration et d'exclusion sociale par le travail dans un environnement économique et social en mutation [Mechanisms of integration and exclusion through work in a changing economic and social environment]: Résumé des principaux résultats [Summary of the main results]. Retrieved from http://www.snf.ch/SiteCollectionDocuments/nfp/nfp51/NFP51_Modul4_f.pdf
Horn, L., & Berktold, J. (1999). Students with disabilities in postsecondary education: A profile of preparation, participation and outcomes. (NCES 1999-187). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education - National Center for Education Statistics.
Hubka, D., & Killean, E. (1996). Employment opportunities for postsecondary students and graduates with disabilities: A national study. Ottawa: National Educational Association of Disabled Students.
Human Resources Development Canada. (2003). Disability in Canada: A 2001 profile. Human Resources Development Canada. Retrieved from http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/RH37-4-4-2001E.pdf
Jorgensen, S., Fichten, C. S., Havel, A., Lamb D., James, C., & Barile, M. (2003). Students with disabilities at Dawson College: Success and outcomes. Final report presented to PAREA. Étudiants ayant des incapacités au Dawson College : Réussite et avenir. Rapport final présenté à PAREA. ERIC (Education Resources Information Centre) ED481553.
Jorgensen, S., Fichten, C. S., Havel, A., Lamb, D., James, C., & Barile, M. (2005). Academic performance of college students with and without disabilities: An archival study. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 39(2), 101-117.
Kapsalis, C. (1999). The effect of disabilities on literacy skills. Nepean, Ontario: Data Probe Economic Consulting Inc.
Kierstead, A.G., & Hanvey, L. (2001). Special education in Canada. Perception - CCSD's Magazine, 25(2). Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/perception/252/specialed.htm
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. (2006). Employment profile: A summary of the employment experience of 2004–2005 college graduates six months after graduation. Retrieved from http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/ser/167066/2004-2005.pdf
National Science Foundation. (2010). Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering. Retrieved from series web site http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/disability.cfm
Nichols, F. (1998, June). L'après-cégep: Insertion professionnelle. Taux d'activité et de chômage en fonction des études postsecondaires et des incapacités [Post-Cegep: Professional integration. Employment and unemployment rates related to postsecondary studies and disabilities]. Presentation at Rencontre de notre 10e année de rencontre avec les répondants [Presentation at the 10th meeting of the disability service providers]. Cégep du Vieux Montréal, Québec.
Office des Personnes Handicapées du Quebec. (1984). On equal terms: The social integration of handicapped persons. A challenge for everyone. Drummondville, Quebec: Author.
Oliver, M. (1990). The Politics of Disablement: A Sociological Approach. London: McMamillan.
Outcomes Group. (1998). 1998 outcomes of former students with disabilities: BC college and institute student outcomes report. Available October 16, 2012, from http://outcomes.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/Libraries/DACSO_Special_Reports/Disabled_pdf.pdf
Nova Scotia Department of Education. (2008). Nova Scotia longitudinal follow-up: Post-secondary leavers with disabilities. Halifax, NS: Author.
Shier, M., Graham, J. R., & Jones, M. E. (2009). Barriers to employment as experienced by disabled people: A qualitative analysis in Calgary and Regina, Canada. Disability and Society, 24(1), 63-75.
Statistics Canada. (2001). Labor force activity for adults without disabilities, by sex and age groups, Canada, 2001 (Table 4). Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-587-x/t/th/t4/4067725-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2003). Table 3.1: Labor force activity for adults with disabilities, by sex and age groups, Canada and provinces, 2001 (Table 3). Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-587-x/t/th/t3/4067722-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2005). Study: Chronic unemployment. The Daily, Sept 6, 2005. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/050906/dq050906a-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2008a). Participation and activity limitation survey 2006: Tables (Part III). Catalogue no. 89-628-X no. 008. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-628-x/89-628-x2008008-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2008b). Participation and activity limitation survey 2006: Labor force experience of people with disabilities in Canada. Catalogue no. 89-628-X no. 007. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-628-x/89-628-x2008007-eng.pdf
Statistics Canada. (2010). Section 2: Determining labour force status. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/71-543-g/2010001/part-partie2-eng.htm
Stodden, R. A., & Dowrick, P. W. (2000). Postsecondary education and employment of adults with disabilities. American Rehabilitation, 22, 19-23.
Taylor, H. (1998). Americans with disabilities still pervasively disadvantaged on a broad range of key indicators. The Harris Poll, 56, October 14, 1998. Retrieved from http://nod.org/about_us/our_history/annual_reports/1998_annual_report/
United Nations. (2006). Annex I - Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=199
United States Government Accountability Office. (2009). Higher education and disability: Education needs a coordinated approach to improve its assistance to schools in supporting students. Report to the Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives. Washington: author. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1033.pdf
Wagner, M., Newman, L., Cameto, R., & Levine, P. (2005). National longitudinal transition study-2 (NLTS-2): Changes over time in the early postschool outcomes of youth with disabilities. Washington, DC: Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.nlts2.org/pdfs/str6_completereport.pdf
WCG International Consultants Ltd. (2004). Recruitment and retaining persons with disabilities in British Columbia research project: Final research & validation report. Retrieved from www.eia.gov.bc.ca/epwd/docs/researchreport.pdf
Wessel, R. O., Jones, J.A., Markle, L., & Westfall, K. (2009). Retention and graduation of students with disabilities: Facilitating student success. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 21(3), 116-125.
Wolforth, J. (2006). Follow-up questionnaire results of 2002-2003 McGill University graduates. Montréal: Office for Students with Disabilities, McGill University.
Article Sidebar
Published
Oct 13, 2014
Article Details
Issue
Section
Research Articles and Essays
RDS Journal is an open-access journal, create a free account to read full articles and to submit a proposal. For visual arts and multimedia, submission will be considered evidence that you are offering RDS the right to display your work without penalty, compensation or royalties.
Author Biographies
Maria Barile, Co-Director, Adaptech Research Network
Maria Barile has a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from McGill University. She is presently a Co-Director of the Adaptech Research Network. She has 30 years of volunteer experience in the Canadian disability and women's movement.
Catherine Fichten, Co-Director, Adaptech Research Network; Professor, Department of Psychology, Dawson College; Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGillUniversity
Catherine Fichten has a Ph.D. in Psychology from McGill University. She is a Co-Director of the Adaptech Research Network, a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Dawson College, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, and a clinical psychologist in the Behavioral Psychotherapy and Research Unit of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.
Alice Havel, Coordinator, Dawson's AccessAbility Center
Alice Havel has a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from McGill University. She has been the Coordinator of Dawson's AccessAbility Center for students with disabilities for many years.
Shirley Jorgensen, Coordinator, Dawson College Office of Institutional Research
Shirley Jorgensen has an M.B.A. from the University of Wollongong in Australia. She is the Coordinator of Dawson College's Office of Institutional Research.