Longitudinal Postschool Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities: Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study

TLDR

The study reports on trends in employment, wages, postsecondary education, and residential independence among youth with disabilities during the first five years after high school, using data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study. Results show substantial gains in all four outcomes over time, yet youth with disabilities remain behind their peers, with variations by disability type, gender, ethnicity, and high‑school completion status.

Abstract

This article describes findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) of Special Education Students regarding trends in the employment, wages, postsecondary education, and residential independence of youth with disabilities in their first 5 years after high school. Data from the NLTS indicated strong gains in all four outcome areas over time. In all areas, however, youth with disabilities continued to lag behind their peers in the general population. Several differences between youth in certain disability categories were found regarding employment, postsecondary education, and movement toward independence over time. Longitudinal outcomes also differed widely by gender, ethnicity, and high school completion status.