Page 33 - 2024 May report

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY FINAL REPORT (2) Executive Summary
The report summarizes the results of Project RISE, Researching Institutional Support to Employment: A Study of College Graduates with Disabilities. The purpose of the research was to:
1. Learn about the college and post-college employment experiences of college graduates with disabilities funded by the Foundation; and
2. Gain insights to leverage points that could benefit from the Foundation’s involvement and further the Foundation’s mission.
There were two phases of research.
Phase 1 involved a focus group and seven interviews with disability services professionals. Findings from the conversations with disability services professionals included (see Milestone 1 Report for a detailed description):
Offices of disability services are a hub for people with disabilities on their campuses, but they cannot provide every needed service.
• Career development opportunities for students with disabilities vary widely by institution and are dependent on funding and available resources
• Despite institutional differences in logistical coordination, the Johnson Scholarship offers financial benefits; however, state-level policies or practices may have unintended consequences for students.
• After the COVID-19 pandemic, ODRs and universities are moving on, but the pandemic’s impact still lingers for some students with disabilities.
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Phase 2 involved interviews with five graduates and seven current students who received a scholarship through the Foundation during their studies. Findings from the JSF scholar interviews are described in further detail in this report and include:
• Graduates and students navigated multiple challenges when transitioning to (or preparing to transition to) post-college employment.
• Graduates and students identified a range of campus experiences they felt supported their career development, including services offered by the career services office, but generally did not receive disability-specific career development support.
• Graduates and students described having to take initiative to make their career plans a reality.
Major takeaways include:
• JSF funding made a tangible impact on graduates’ and current students’ ability to persist in their studies at the State University System of Florida (SUSF) institution where they were enrolled.
• Interviewed JSF Scholarship recipients believed that internship experiences were instrumental to their future employment success but indicated that clearly identified routes to support for internship and employment opportunities were not offered to them.
• Interviewed graduates and students showed limited understanding of the sources of their funding of tuition support, especially that from the Foundation.
• Graduates of the SUSF institutions who received Johnson Foundation Scholarships were very difficult to locate. Our understanding of the JSF Scholars’ career development experiences was limited, as former students could not be contacted.
• DisabilityservicesprofessionalsattheSUSFinstitutionsindicatethatthenumberofstudentsrequesting disability services has increased since the onset of the pandemic, with a notable rise in students experiencing mental health conditions.
Education / A Powerful force for change Page 31