Want to significantly increase the likelihood of employment and economic advancement for people with disabilities? This month’s EQUITY looks at the strong correlation between education, employment and income gains particularly for people with disabilities.

The relentless escalating expense of college attendance can make one question the value of continuing education beyond high school. Is the high cost of tuition, the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment, and the accumulation of thousands of dollars of debt, really worth it? This can be of even further import for families and individuals with limited means. 

For many students with a disability still in high school, it is hard to imagine what the long-term benefits of a college education might be. The idea of college is probably intimidating, having to find all new friends, deal with a disability in a new setting, not to mention the course work, logistics and latent fears, is it really worth it?

The personal argument for attending college is a compelling one.  It is where young adults learn to make decisions and begin to take charge of their own lives. One gets the opportunity to learn more about intriguing subjects, further develop crucial social skills and perhaps, more importantly, learn about oneself.  College is the exposure to hitherto unknown intellectual passions, sharing in the richness of other people’s histories, and the development of a broader, more sophisticated cultural worldview.

According to a study by the Carnegie Foundation, non-monetary individual benefits of higher education include the tendency for postsecondary students to become more open-minded, more cultured, more rational, more consistent, and less authoritarian; these benefits are passed to succeeding generations.  Additionally, college attendance has been shown to "decrease prejudice, enhance knowledge of world affairs, and enhance social status.” (Rowley and Hurtado,  2002).

The shared life long bonds with other students, exposure to professor’s ideas and experience and access to a community of those who came before, all provide a rich network from which to cull both personally and professionally. Simply put, college can provide the opportunity to discover the field you love, the skills and network to flourish, to build your economic and professional future. Someone once said find a job you love, and you will never work another day in your life. College can provide that opportunity, support and environment especially for people with disabilities.

Another benefit of a college degree is the increased career and employment opportunities. According to Yahoo, many employers prefer hiring people with college degrees.  In fact, many employers now require every candidate possess at least an associate’s degree. Where two candidates possess equal experience and skill, often the employer will choose the person with a college degree. In addition, education attainment is often related to continuing career advancement, wage increase, and potential bonuses.

The economic argument for continuing education is quite compelling.  It does not surprise that increased educational attainment results in increased income. However, as illustrated in the following table, relatively small differences in education dramatically affect both income and employment rates.

Unemployment rate   Education attained    Median weekly earnings
in 2008 (Percent)                                         in 2008 (Dollars)

2.0%                      Doctoral degree                           $1,555
1.7%                      Professional degree                     $1,522
2.4%                      Master's degree                           $1,228
2.8%                      Bachelor's degree                           $978
3.7%                      Associate degree                            $736
5.1%                      Some college, no degree                $645
5.7%                      High-school graduate                     $591
9.0%                      Less than a high school diploma    $426

The data illustrates a nearly six fold difference in the unemployment rate between lowest and highest educational attainment.  Similarly, the chart indicates a percentage variance between income for the same groups.  Recently President Obama discussed that projected job growth over the next decade will produce twice as many jobs which require an AA degree as compared to job growth which only requires a high school degree.

These observed trends even apply more strongly for people with disabilities.  A clear, positive relationship among disability, level of education and adult employment has been firmly established in numerous studies (e.g., Benz, Doren, & Yovanoff, 1998; Blackorby & Wagner, 1996). In fact, employment rates for people with disabilities demonstrate an even stronger positive correlation between level of education and rate of employment than appears in statistical trends for the general population (Sodden, 1998).  In 1996, U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicated labor force participation rates at 75 percent for people without a high school diploma, 85 percent for those with a diploma, 88 percent for people with some postsecondary education, and 90 percent for those with at least 4 years of college.  By contrast, only 16 percent of people with a disability and without a high school diploma participated over the same period. However, this participation doubles to 30 percent for those who have completed high school, triples to 45 percent for those with some postsecondary education and climbs to 50 percent for adults with disabilities and at least 4 years of college (Yelin & Katz, 1994).

College graduates enjoy benefits beyond increased income. A 1998 report published by the Institute for Higher Education Policy reviews the individual benefits that college graduates enjoy, including higher levels of saving, increased personal/professional mobility, improved quality of life for their offspring, better consumer decision making, and more hobbies and leisure activities (Institute for Higher Education Policy, 1998).

Research has also consistently shown a positive correlation between completion of higher education and good health, not only for oneself, but also for one's children. In fact, "parental schooling levels (after controlling for differences in earnings) are positively correlated with the health status of their children" and "increased schooling (and higher relative income) are correlated with lower mortality rates for given age brackets" (Cohn and Geske, 1992).

The data also indicates that educational attainment may be particularly important for younger people with disabilities.  Loprest and Magi (2003) provide a detailed portrait of educational attainment and age of onset of disability. Using data from the National Health Interview Survey, they indicate that only about 16.3% of their sample reporting disabilities reported onset prior to age 22 years. Fully one third of this early-onset group failed to achieve a high school education, while only 7.8% reported college completion.

Thus with early onset of disability, and low educational attainment, the economic forecast for this group is, at best, grim.  It is therefore critical that people with disabilities, particularly those with early disability onset, find a way to increase their attainment of educational outcomes.  As illustrated by the previous chart, even modest levels of education significantly increase both employment outcomes and results in substantially greater wages. 

Even during the present economic downturn, it is vital to insure that the programs and policies supporting educational opportunities for people with disabilities continue and increase.  State Department of Rehabilitations, educational individual development accounts, and private philanthropic efforts must work together, now, more than ever, to continue to fund educational options for people with disabilities.  People with disabilities, their families, and networks of support must focus their efforts to increase educational outcomes.  Perhaps no other single issue offers the employment, economic and social returns for people with disabilities, as does the attainment of higher education.