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Abstract

This paper presents findings from a study utilizing Latent Profile Analysis to examine the value-based principles of transition professionals from two distinct disciplines: special education and Centers for Independent Living (CIL). Specifically, this paper aimed to identify profiles emerging from the value orientations of special education and CIL professionals, and to explore how individual factors such as professional role, disability status, education, and years’ experience differ across these profiles. Findings revealed a taxonomy comprising four distinct profiles within the transition professionals sampled. These profiles delineate varying dominant values that encapsulate the convergence of special education and independent living philosophies. Implications for research and practice are also discussed.

Plain Language Summary

There are some key things to know about this study. First, a lot of research has shown that when students with disabilities finish high school, they often do not do as well as their peers without disabilities in areas like getting jobs or going to college. One thing that has been shown to help these students as they move into adulthood is when professionals from different agencies work together to support them. How these professionals work together is also very important. This study focused on something that might influence these professionals—value-based principles. Value-based principles refer to the beliefs that guide how these professionals support youth with disabilities. In this study, we asked two groups of professionals about which value-based principles are important to them. These two groups included 562 people working in special education or at a Center for Independent Living. Based on their answers, we were able to group the professionals into four different profiles. These profiles help explain the trends in the value-based principles that matter most to different groups. Having this knowledge can improve how people work together to support youth with disabilities as they transition to adulthood. It also shows that more research in this area is needed.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

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