Exploring the social lives of young adults with disabilities

This article explores the social lives of young adults with disabilities as they were transitioning from school to adult life. The young adults were former participants of the Access to Community Employment and Education Program (ACEE) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, a program, which focuses on the transition of young people with disabilities from school and youth to adulthood, employment, and independent living. The data in the article were drawn from a mixed method research project that explored, through a survey and follow-up focus groups and interviews, the impact of the ACEE program and the lived experiences of its alumni in the years after having completed the program. The study highlights the alumni's social lives, their leisure activities and their relationships and the different ways the participants are living their lives in the community several years after having completed the ACEE program. The data shows that the program is playing an important role in creating lasting friendships and a sense of belonging amongst its peers.
Source: ALTER - European Journal of Disability Research - Category: Disability Source Type: research