Affiliations: [a]
Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| [b]
College Station Independent School District, College Station, TX, USA
| [c]
Department of Education, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
| [d]
School of Education, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Dalun Zhang, Professor of Special Education, Director of Center on Disability and
Development, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4225, USA. Tel.: +1 979 862 6514; Fax: +1 979 862
1256; E-mail: dalun@tamu.edu.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term advocacy involvement and adult outcomes of the Texas Statewide Youth Leadership Forum (TXYLF) participants. METHODS:The relationships between advocacy involvement and adult outcomes of former TXYLF participants at one to six years after participation were examined. RESULTS:Participants with low incidence disabilities were involved in inclusive employment more often than what was reported in the literature. Minority status increased the likelihood of involvement in advocacy, having a high incident disability increased the likelihood of post-training employment, and being under 21 years old increased the likelihood of living independently and participating in postsecondary education advocacy and employment advocacy. Exposure to the TXYLF for one full year, participation in the nine-month support phase, attending a regional YLF, and involvement as a mentor increased the likelihood of post-training employment, postsecondary education, and independent living.
Keywords: Disability, employment, leadership, advocacy, postsecondary education, training
