Young disabled people

by Sonali Shah

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 that affect their futures, including in education and employment. This important book examines the career-related decisions and aspirations of young disabled people and explores the relationships, policies and social structures that determine the extent to which they will achieve their goals. The book is based on research, funded by the European Social Fund, with young disabled people, aged between thirteen and twenty three, in full-time education. It presents their stories about making transitions and choices for their occupational futures. Parts of the research has already had influence in British government, informing the preparation of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People (2005). This book makes all of the research available to a broader audience. The author o