From Education to Employment: A Transition Story

This chapter focuses on the transition between education and the employment of young people with a disability. Governments produce guidelines and legislation which are designed to ensure that people with disabilities are able to find employment. Programmes for the transition of students with a disability are designed and carried out by educational establishments and services such as Connexions. However, the case study of Nick illustrated the differences in the guidance given throughout his transition into employment, and he questioned aspects of government legislation which he felt were unhelpful to people with disabilities and, ultimately, to employers. The implications of his experiences are discussed with reference to transition guidance, to government legislation and to the personal and emotional cost to people with a disability.