Helping Underserved Leaders Transition: A School Based Pre-Vocational Skills Program

The transition from high school to adulthood is typically accompanied by student's prepping and planning for post-secondary education and employment following the completion of their education. Obtaining employment is a key milestone in a young adult's life and provides the opportunity for earning money, living independently, and actively participating within the community and work environment. Young adults with disabilities (YADs) face numerous barriers when attempting to prepare for and obtain employment. Barriers such as transportation, employer bias, and an individual's interpersonal factors contribute to poorer employment outcomes for YADs when compared to neurotypical same aged peers. "Helping Underserved Leaders Transition" ("HULT") is a school based prevocational skills program developed to address poor employment outcomes for YADs. Utilizing a mixed methods research design, "HULT" derives both qualitative and quantitative data from each program stakeholder including the students, their families and/or caregivers, and the school district administrators assisting with the logistics of the program implementation. Using quantitative data measures such as the use of Likert scales, "HULT" analyzes several outcomes before and after program participation related to the students' skills in areas such as level of self-esteem, level of independence while completing vocational tasks, and ability to utilize coping strategies.Pre-vocational training within a school setting provides a dynamic and unique addition to YADs educational experience. "HULT" in conjunction with community resources and school curriculum allows students to prepare for their future employment endeavors earlier and within an inclusive, client centered environment. "HULT" demonstrate the importance of pre-vocational skills programming earlier in a student's education to ensure accessibility and to improve overall employability for YADs. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]