Vocational Rehab Counselors’ Perceived Influences - Secondary Transition Plan & Post Outcomes

Abstract: Outside agencies such as vocational rehabilitation agencies are designed to help provide services such as job coaching, mental health services, tuition assistance, and life-skills training for students with disabilities during and after high school so that they may obtain postsecondary success (Gil, 2007). This study examined the perceived influences of vocational rehabilitation counselors regarding the secondary transition planning process and the postsecondary outcomes of graduates from the class of 2011 who were enrolled in a special education program while in high school. The study also examined how the vocational rehabilitation counselors utilized postsecondary follow-up data to improve and inform secondary transition planning. The results of this study revealed that more interagency collaboration among the adult support system of students with disabilities is needed in order to ensure postsecondary success.