Employment outcomes and social integration of students with mild handicaps: the quality of life two years after high school.

The employment outcomes and social adjustment of mildly handicapped students were examined in a sample of 65 randomly selected youths who exited high school in 1984. Personal and telephone interviews were conducted to obtain current employment data such as income, employment and training history, and use of community and social services in securing employment. Postschool social adjustment data included marital status, place of residence, types and frequency of social activities, friendship patterns, and satisfaction with social life. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents were employed. The majority worked on a full-time basis for minimum wage or better, were satisfied with their jobs, and relied on a self-family-friend network to secure employment. The majority of respondents were single, resided at home, and engaged in a variety of social activities on a regular basis. When the employment and social activity variables were combined, it was found that over 60% of the respondents were employed and held positive perceptions of their social life.