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Perceptions and Expectations of Youth With Disabilities  (NLTS2)
NCSER 2007-3006
September 2007

Independence Expectations

In addition to their expectations regarding educational attainment, youth with disabilities were asked how likely they think it is that they will achieve several milestones of independence: getting a driver's license, finding paid employment, being financially self-sufficient, and living independently.

More than four of five youth with disabilities (81 percent) "definitely" expect to get a driver's license (figure 21). Another 14 percent think they "probably" will be able to earn driving privileges. The large majority of youth with disabilities (95 percent) expect they "definitely" will get a paid job. However, youth are less certain that these jobs will pay enough for them to be financially self-sufficient; about two-thirds (65 percent) expect they "definitely will" be able to support themselves financially, without family or government support (p < .001 for comparison with definitely expect to get a paid job). Approximately 3 of 10 (29 percent) report they "probably will" be able to be financially self-sufficient.

Figure 21: Youth with disabilities' reported expectations for their future driving, employment, and financial independence

Expectations for residential independence do not differ significantly from expectations related to financial independence (figure 22). Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of youth with disabilities think they "definitely" will be living independently in the future. An additional 22 percent say they "probably" will be living independently, while 6 percent report they "probably" or "definitely" will not. Among youth who think they will not be able to live independently without supervision, even having supervision is not expected to result in independence for many; nearly half (48 percent) do not expect to live away from home with supervision, while 16 percent of those youth expect they "definitely" will be able to live away from home with supervision.

Figure 22: Youth with disabilities' reported expectations for their future residential independence