Thinking About the Future: Perceived Barriers and Supports Among Israeli Young Adults With Physical Disabilities

Abstract

Young adults with disabilities tend to have lower rates of employment and career indicators as compared with youth without disabilities. Therefore, understanding the factors that may influence such outcomes is crucial. This study examined the future perceptions of 18 young adults with physical disabilities while focusing on the barriers and supports that may impact their transition into adult life. All participants were living in a rehabilitative student community in southern Israel. They participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview. Data analysis, which was conducted according to an adaptation of the Consensual Qualitative Research method, revealed four major domains: emotions, future life roles, barriers, and supports. Findings emphasized that the participants’ disability was extremely dominant in their future perceptions. In general, they expressed caution and concern about their future. They also tended not to express detailed long-term planning. Their perceptions focused on their future work, future intimate relationships, and the need to manage simultaneously different roles. When addressing their possible barriers and supports, they related both to environmental (e.g., social stigma and community support) and to personal (e.g., low self-esteem and high motivation) factors. Implications for research and practice are discussed.