Carer Perspectives on the Transition of Young People With Learning Disabilities to Employment

The paper reports the views of carers on transition to employment, college or other services for young people with learning disabilities (LD). The research draws on interviews with 87 carers in six areas of the U.K. conducted over a period of 12 months. The research found that advice to carers from careers services did not successfully cover employment as an option, whereas advice from employment services did. Carers did aspire to their young people getting a paid job as a next step, but follow-up interviews showed the majority went to college. The results suggest that employment organizations need to be involved earlier in the transition process if young people and carers are to be fully informed of their options.