Why do people with intellectual disabilities not pursue formal post-secondary education?

Abstract

Education is a fundamental human right. Having an intellectual disability (ID) should not limit individuals from pursuing their education. However, despite the benefits of postsecondary education, some young adults decide not to further their studies. This research aims to identify the factors which hinder young adults with ID from furthering their education to post-secondary. Another aim is to underline how social workers can encourage persons with ID to pursue their studies. A qualitative approach was utilised to reach the study’s objective and address the research question. Five interviews were held with persons with ID who did not pursue post-secondary education or dropped out. Two other interviews were conducted with social workers who work in the intellectual disability sector. The persons with ID were accompanied by their mothers, who also contributed to the interviews. The social workers contributed by sharing their professional knowledge and experience of why their clients did not pursue post-secondary education. They also discussed how social workers can aid young adults with ID in deciding about post-secondary education. To analyse the data, thematic analysis was used. Three themes were analysed and discussed. The first theme concerned transportation issues. It was found that the lack of transportation offered at a postsecondary level hindered young adults with ID from continuing their education. The second theme centred on parental involvement in the decision-making process. Concerns from parents regarding post-secondary education were discussed. The final theme tackled findings related to academic issues. The lack of opportunities concerning inclusive post-secondary education in Malta was highlighted. Another discussion in theme three was related to the lack of support from learning support educators. The study has also underlined the importance of social workers in helping young adults decide on their future. The research put forward several recommendations that may be beneficial in encouraging persons with ID to continue their studies after compulsory education. The study has also identified areas which can be further researched.