Building Consensus from Transition Experts on Social Integration Outcomes and Interventions

Abstract

This study surveyed transition experts—individuals with federally funded model demonstration programs in transition—to build consensus on the validity of a range of social integration outcomes and interventions related to youths' making the transition from school to employment. Experts were asked if they had assessed any of the outcomes proposed or had implemented any suggested interventions. Respondents ranked harriers to achieving social integration, and respondent characteristics were related to these rankings. Transition experts agreed that social integration is a multidimensional concept whose outcomes need to be measured from multiple perspectives; this multidimensionality implies that varying interventions are needed to enhance the social lives of youths with disabilities.