Youth with Disabilites and their Future

          Youth with disabilities are a large demographic in todays’ society. It is a big issue for new parents but it is important to make sure that they have the ability to have some independence. According to the NPHS, there were approximately 564, 575 children and youth between birth and 19 years of age with disabilities in 1996-97 (CPU, 2012). Youth is a hard time for any individual and it is extremely important that kids are not only prepared for schooling but what will happen after. All of the issues that affect young people, such as access to education, employment, health care and social services, also affect youth with disabilities, but in a far more complex way.

When a child is born or develops a disability, it is often seen as a tragic event by his or her family and community. In many countries, thankfully not in North America, there are certain traditional beliefs associated with the causes of disability, such as curses and contagion, which results in these children and their mothers being shunned and isolated. Unfortunately some families do not know how to put the  priorities and the needs of their children with disabilities first, which is shown by higher levels of malnutrition, lower rates of immunization, and higher rates of infection among children with disabilities (DSEA, 2012).

            School helps children with disabilities grow confident because of the regularity and structure of a school that fills a child’s day with classes and activities that helps them become more independent, the more the get used to the routine the easier it becomes. Starting this at a young age helps children achieve these goals by making a successful transition from being a student to being an adult. It has been developed primarily for families who have sons and daughters with disabilities. It is provided with the hope that families and young people with disabilities will have the information they require and confidence to be actively involved in planning for life beyond the classroom. It is important at this stage to instill in them the confidence it will take for them to also be successful post-secondary life.
         
           Making that transition from school to either the work place or further study is both exciting and challenging. All of the issues that affect young people, such as access to education, employment, health care and social services, also affect youth with disabilities, but in a far worse way. Attitudes and discrimination linked to disability make it much more difficult for youth with disabilities to find work after secondary education. Being prepared and utilizing different programs that will help them get into a job is important (NBACL, 2006). The confidence instilled in them and a strong family foundation should help them be more confident and willing to get in there and put their all into doing their best at the job.

Everyone wishes good things on their children weather or not they have disabilities; they want them to have a job, a good home and friends, opportunities to and be functional and involved in their community. Issues such as access to education, employment, health care and social services effect youth whether or not they have a disability and it is important the the doors to the programs and support they need are open and accessible.

- Marquise

Youth with Disabilities (2012). In UN: Department of Social and Economic affairs. Retrieved December 6, 2012, from http://social.un.org/index/Youth/ResourcesandPublications/YouthWithDisabilities.aspx

CPU, . (2012). Children and Youth with Disabilities. In Special needs project. Retrieved December 7, 2012, from http://specialneedsproject.ca/resources/useful-tools/342-children-and-youth-with-disabilities.html

NBACL. (2006). Transition from School to Work for Youth with Disabilities . In New Brunswick Association for Community Living. Retrieved December 6, 2012, from http://www.nbacl.nb.ca/nbacl/NBACL-ANBIC/module1e/module1a.html