Disability Harassment of Students in Transition from School to Work: Implications for Rehabilitation Counseling
Disability harassment of students in special education may have a significant impact on their transition from school to work. Risk factors could include not attending school, not seeking employment, and dropping out of the workforce if they experience harassment again early on in their work history. Background information includes an analogy to sexual harassment and two definitions of disability harassment. Several egregious legal accounts from schools and the workplace, along with research findings on the prevalence of work-related disability harassment of eligible clients of a state vocational rehabilitation agency are presented. Data reports from federal agencies monitoring public schools and places of employment indicate a trend of greater frequency of filed complaints of disability harassment. Important points to remember regarding this issue are discussed. Finally, specific and practical implications for rehabilitation counselors are mentioned to help break the silence on this insidious problem for young people with disabilities in transition.