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Description
Young female adults with disabilities are at risk for difficult lives. The transition from high school to post-secondary education is fraught with difficulties for disabled persons and research indicates they do not fare as well as their non- disabled peers (Wagner, 1992; Wagner, Newman, Cameto & Levine, 2005). In addition, gender disparities exist when accessing post-secondary education and employment (Hogansen, Power, Geenen, Gil-Kashiwabara & Powers, 2008). Research on transition planning for individuals with disabilities indicates that men are almost twice as likely to have jobs as women, women earn one-half of what men earn, women receive less education than men do, and females are more often single parents than males (Wagner, et al, 2005). Despite the focus on improving transition services and post-secondary outcomes, the research conducted on gender disparities in the last 20 years still remains a concern (Belle, 1990; Fulton & Sabornie, 1994; McGrath, Strickland, Keita & Russo, 1990; and Wagner, 1992). Thus, females with disabilities are at considerable risk while transitioning from high school to employment or post-secondary education. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of research on women with disabilities and what best meets their unique needs for successful academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine how perceived social support and intrinsic qualities of women differ among women with a specific learning disability (SLD) and non-disabled women. A demographic questionnaire followed by surveys that measure intrinsic strengths of the individual (Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, TSCS: 2) and perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, MSPSS) was posted online at Qualtrics SDSU.com and sent to individual women who agreed to participate in the study. Independent t-tests were conducted to compare the means of the two groups of women. Chi-square tests were used to compare answers on the demographic questionnaire. Significant differences were found in the age and income level of respondents with learning disabilities than those of the women with a disability. The self-concept score on the TSCS:2 was also found to be significantly different between the two groups. T-tests conducted on perceived social support were also significantly different.
