Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine February 2024 | Page 26

Article of Note

More than a ‘ disability person .’

What finishing school is like for youth with intellectual disability

By Lise Ludwig Mogensen Associate professor , Medical Education , Research and Evaluation , School of Medicine , Western Sydney University
Leaving school and figuring out what ’ s next is challenging for young people . For those with disability , it is even harder . It is often a time when supports are withdrawn as they leave the heavily structured school environment .
We asked young people with intellectual disability about their experiences of transitioning from school and starting adult life . Our newly published research suggests pre-transition planning for school leavers with disability is inconsistent or lacking . Most participants felt excluded from making decisions for life after school and needed support to access and navigate the
National Disability Insurance Scheme ( NDIS ).
After school , most participants longed to find a paid job , friends and a life partner but felt they were missing out on these typical adult milestones . They told us it was difficult to find service providers to help them reach their goals . Many
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