High School Experiences That Support Post-School Success: What Can We Learn?

Students with disabilities continue to lag behind their peers without disabilities in the area of post-school success. This study qualitatively analyzed individual responses from 6 years of post-school outcomes survey data in one state to identify positive experiences said to help students reach their post-school goals. Respondents reported nine themes as being the most helpful in meeting their goals after high school, including having supportive staff members, taking career development coursework, and developing success attributes such as self-advocacy. A negative experience theme also emerged in the analysis. Implications for educators are discussed related to emphasizing instruction in self-determination and career development. Implications for states are discussed related to the post-school outcomes data collection process.