Disability Employment Disparities Among Students: High School Struggles, College Advancemen

 

tYoung people with disabilities aged 16 to 24 had high school enrollment rates nearly identical to their non-disabled peers, but significantly fewer held jobs during this time. Meanwhile, college students with disabilities were less likely to be enrolled but were slightly more likely to be employed, possibly benefiting from the rise of remote work opportunities in the post-COVID era, according to data shared during the according to last Friday’s National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Deeper Dive Lunch & Learn Webinar.

nTIDE is a joint effort by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). The webinar also featured Katie Johnson, internship program manager at the Washington, DC-based American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), who discussed the crucial role their programs play in preparing young people with disabilities for the workforce.

High School Enrollment and Employment: From April 2023 to March 2024, the nTIDE data (derived from the Current Population Survey) revealed that 25.3% of young people with disabilities aged 16 to 24 were enrolled in high school, a figure comparable to the 24.7% enrollment rate among their non-disabled peers. “Both groups exhibited similar trends in enrollment, reflecting the near-mandatory nature of high school education in the United States,” reported nTIDE expert Kim Ju Hyun, PhD, project director III at UNH-IOD. “However, the trend line for students with disabilities showed more variability, likely due to the smaller sample size,” she added.

While high school enrollment rates were similar, a significant gap was observed in employment rates. The employment-to-population ratio for high school students with disabilities was 15.3%, compared to 22.3% for non-disabled students. “The trend lines for both groups moved in tandem, yet the gap persisted, underscoring the challenges that young people with disabilities face in gaining work experience during their high school years,” explained Dr. Kim.

College Enrollment and Employment: The data highlighted a persistent gap in college enrollment between students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers. In the same 12-month timeframe, only 16% of young people with disabilities were enrolled in college, significantly lower than the 27.1% enrollment rate among their non-disabled counterparts.

“The variability in the trend for students with disabilities points to the challenges this population faces in accessing higher education,” said Dr. Kim, adding, “Interestingly, the employment gap narrowed significantly among college students.” The data showed that college students with disabilities had an employment-to-population ratio of 46.1%, slightly surpassing their non-disabled peers, who had a rate of 44.9%. “This suggests that college students with disabilities are increasingly gaining work experience, possibly due to changes in the post-COVID employment landscape, such as the rise of remote work, which has been particularly beneficial for people with disabilities,” she asserted.

Reviewing the recovery patterns of college students with disabilities from past economic recessions, it took them longer to rebound from the 2008 Great Recession, but they recovered more quickly from the COVID-19 recession, even surpassing their non-disabled peers in employment rates. “This trend might be driven by two opposing forces: the increased accessibility of remote work and the higher cost of living, which may compel students with disabilities to seek employment while studying,” explained Dr. Kim.

Insights from AAPD’s Internship Program
AAPD’s Katie Johnson shared valuable insights into the organization’s internship program, which offers paid internships to students and recent graduates with disabilities. The national disability-led, cross-disability rights organization provides meaningful work experiences, leadership skills, and a sense of community within the broader disability movement. “Our program focuses on three key areas: career, leadership, and community. We aim to help young people with disabilities access meaningful employment, develop leadership and advocacy skills, and foster a sense of belonging within the broader disability community, making this a truly impactful experience for our interns,” said Johnson.

AAPD’s summer hybrid program model includes both in-person and remote internships to make it more accessible to students who might not be able to relocate to Washington, DC. “We decided to provide hybrid access because we know that remote access and remote work are actually more accessible for a lot of people with disabilities. It has allowed us to have a more inclusive cohort of people who maybe aren't able to travel to DC,” said Johnson.

Interns work full time in paid internships Monday to Thursday for 10 weeks in congressional offices on the Hill, federal agencies, and in non-profit or for-profit organizations. In addition, AAPD provides accessible housing in Washington, DC, and travel from anywhere in the U.S. The program also emphasizes community building, with weekly cohort meetings and mentorship opportunities that connect interns with established disabled professionals.

“To apply for our program, you simply need to be 18 or over, identify as a person with a disability, and be a current student or recent graduate of a U.S.-based school or program—no doctor's note or certification required,” said Johnson. AAPD’s new fall internship program is fully remote and offers part-time work for interns for 14 weeks. “Many of our interns are current students balancing coursework or recent graduates in a transitional phase taking a gap year or moving towards full-time employment,” they added. “Programs like AAPD’s internship initiative help bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that young people with disabilities are equipped with the skills and experiences needed to succeed in their careers,” Johnson concluded.