Background and Policy Context

Young people with disabilities face many barriers to employment, including:

• • Specific nature of disability and health conditions,

  • Poor access to employment-related services and supports,

  • Lack of access to work experiences,

  • Lack of linkages, collaboration/coordination among various systems (child and adult),

  • Inadequate access to necessary social and health services,

  • Financial disincentives to work (SSA disability programs),

  • Lack of knowledge (benefits counseling, adult systems), and

  • Lack of independent living skills.