Young Disabled People

Recent policies and government initiatives in many Western countries have strengthened the expectation that young disabled people have the right to be involved in decisions affecting their futures. Many of the choices that are currently taken out of young disabled people’s hands, including those relating to education and future employment, are now being viewed as an opportunity to encourage participation in the decision making process. Sonali Shah uses a comparative study of young disabled students within mainstream and special education to determine the influence these recent policies will have on the realization of their long term goals. Young Disabled People: Aspirations, Choices and Constraints will be essential reading for academics in the fields of education, disability studies and employment policy. It will also be valuable to policy makers and teaching and careers professionals. Contents: Introduction, background and policy; Career developments and choices of young people; Young people's aspirations: what are they and why?; Choices and opportunities in mainstream and special education; How families shape the choices of young disabled people; Conclusion: discussion and young people's ideas for change; Bibliography; Index.