I’ve been contemplating this for a while, from both a personal and professional perspective. What do students do once they leave special education? This question could lead into a long discussion about the laws that govern special education or I could write about how the IEP, or Individual Education Program, is supposed to be designed to take students beyond high school. As lovely as both topics are, what I really want to know is what happens after all of that ends.
Before we can answer this question we have to acknowledge a few things. The first is that special education programs serve tons of students that come from different backgrounds, that have different abilities, and that have different disabilities. The degree and nature of the disabilities can also be tremendously different. Then there is the special education program itself. Not all special education programs are created equal.
Now, let’s talk about life after school. Some students might choose to end their schooling after high school, others might go to college, and let’s not play naïve, some quit school before graduation. These paths eventually led to a job search. Because of equal employment opportunity, employers can’t discriminate on the basis of disability, but some disabilities may make it extremely difficult or impossible to do some types of work. For example, a high school graduate with a learning disability in math might be unable to run a cash register. It is possible that this person might find a niche in another industry, maybe manufacturing. There are also options for people with physical disabilities that prevent them from doing manual labor. After that, things start to get more complicated. What about students with major disabilities? What about students with emotional disturbances? What about a student with learning disabilities and a physical impairment that prevents them from doing heavy labor?
To go any further, we need to review a couple of sets of options. The first, and the one that many parents want for their child, is for their child to get a job and be independent. Looking at a few of the examples above, that isn’t always possible. There are some colleges and schools that teach life skills and independence, but once again, this isn’t always a viable option. There are also assisted living communities where people are taught skills, and learn a degree of independence with others there to help them. They also work and contribute to the community.
What happens if none of these options are appropriate?
There is another option; someone else takes care of them. Is that negative? No, not necessarily, but it is challenging. How do you keep them active and busy? How do you keep them social? How hard should you push them toward independence? Should you even try to push them toward independence? I don’t have answers; all I have is one question.
What comes after special education?