Equal Opportunities? Post-School Employment Outcomes for Young Adults With and Without Visual Impairments

Introduction: This study aimed to compare long-term employment outcomes among two groups of young adults with visual impairments (with and without functional limitations) and the general population. Method: Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, employment outcomes were examined over 16 years (from ages 21 to 36 years) for three groups: those with visual impairments and functional limitations (VIFL), those with visual impairments and no functional limitations (VINFL), and those with no visual impairments (NVI). We examined trends in the mean percentage of weeks (a) worked, (b) unemployed, and (c) not in the labor force, as well as average weekly hours worked and average annual earnings. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the association between visual impairment status and cumulative employment outcomes. Results: Individuals in the VIFL group worked a lower percentage of weeks and had more weeks unemployed and out of the labor force compared to the other groups. The VIFL group also had lower average annual earnings. Over time, average weekly hours worked converged across all groups. ANOVA results showed a significant effect of visual impairment status on employment outcomes, with the VIFL group differing significantly from both the VINFL group and the NVI group. Discussion: The findings reveal significant disparities in employment outcomes for visually impaired young adults who experienced functional limitations. However, those with visual impairment but no functional limitations experienced outcomes comparable to the general population. Implications for Practitioners: This study highlights the importance of assessing long-term outcomes for visually impaired youths transitioning into adulthood, especially regarding the widening earnings gaps in relation to general population outcomes.