Disability and Disadvantage: a Study of a Cohort of Australian Youth

This paper examines the association between disability and disadvantage among Australian youth. Past experiences (e.g., school achievement), and present circumstances (e.g., participation in education and employment) as well as aspirations and expectations (e.g., expected education and career) are investigated. The results show that young people growing up with a disability, especially a developmental/learning disability, have significantly worse outcomes in many aspects (past experiences in particular) than those without disability. Further, outcomes for young people with disability are poorer if disability is compounded by other sources of disadvantage such as poor maternal educational attainment. Evidence of intergenerational transmission of disadvantage is also revealed.