A Generally Positive Outlook
On every measure of youth's perceptions and expectations, there are some youth who express the most positive and some the most negative views. However, positive views predominate when youth describe themselves, their school experiences, and their relationships. For example, more than half of youth with disabilities who could express their own views report having a variety of strengths, ranging from mechanical, athletic, and artistic abilities to being well-organized and sensitive to others' feelings. Two-thirds of youth who received or still receive special education services in high school report they do not believe they have any kind of disability or special need that interferes with their activities. About 60 percent or more report thinking of themselves as nice, proud, able to cope, useful, and important. Similarly, the majority say they are rarely if ever depressed in a given week, and report enjoying life and feeling it is full of interesting things to do most or all of the time. About half give themselves high scores on a measure of personal autonomy,51 and a similar proportion feel confident in their ability to express their feelings to their peers. More than 6 in 10 have high scores on self-realization abilities and report being able to get adults to listen to them and to get information they need. More than 8 in 10 score high on psychological empowerment. Perhaps a note of caution is in order, however, when considering this generally positive view that youth have of themselves and their abilities, in light of some research that has shown a "positive illusory bias" in such assessment on the part of youth with disabilities (Evangelista et al. 2004; Gresham et al. 2000; Heath and Glen 2005; Hoza et al. 2002; Klassen 2006).
When it comes to views of school, generally positive perceptions also are reported. About two-thirds of youth with disabilities report liking school and feeling part of school at least "pretty much." The majority of youth with disabilities report that school is not particularly hard and that they only occasionally have problems with academic and interpersonal challenges. Most feel at least "pretty safe" at school, and almost half agree "a lot" that they get the services and supports at school that they need to succeed.
Personal relationships, particularly those with parents or guardians, also are reported in a positive light by the majority of youth with disabilities. More than 8 in 10 youth with disabilities report having parents who care about them "very much," and of all relationships, youth are most likely to turn to parents for support when they have problems or decisions to make. Other adults, including school staff, also play an important support role for youth with disabilities. Peer relationships also are important to youth with disabilities and are viewed positively by most. About three-fourths of youth with disabilities are confident in their ability to make friends and report they can "find a friend" when they need one. Most report rarely or never feeling lonely or disliked by others in the previous week.
The generally positive views of themselves and their lives expressed by the majority of youth with disabilities on multiple dimensions are consistent with the hopeful view of the future expressed by many. The large majority expect to graduate from high school with a regular diploma, and about half expect to continue their education after high school. Almost all expect to find paid employment, two-thirds believe they will be able to earn enough to be financially self-supporting, and three-fourths expect to live independently away from home.
