- Life trajectory outcomes were generally worse for people with disabilities than for people without 
- Poor social skills were common among many of the disabilities studied including those with mental illness, physical impairments, and developmental disorders
- Many of the poor social outcomes were comorbid across conditions: that is, regardless of the disability, a child had poor social outcomes ranging from fewer friendships to higher degree of mental health problems


Psychosocial Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities

- In regard to societal outcomes (such as employment and education), many people with disabilities were employed at the same rate as people without disabilities - the discrepancy lies with the types of jobs being worked
- An important factor in determining whether or not a person was employed was severity of disability and level of social skills (lower severity and higher social skills often leads to higher rates of employment)


Societal Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities

- Developmental trajectories are characterized by viewing individuals within their social, personal, generational, and cultural
- A key facet of this is understanding that a person’s development is on-going and ever changing - nobody stays exactly as they are as they age


University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Since most children with disabilities live into adulthood, a growing amount of research has been dedicated to analyzing the life course outcomes for these individuals. Studies show that while there are often more negative mental and physical health outcomes for individuals with disabilities, more and more people are experiencing similar life trajectories to their peers. This is due to similar opportunities with fulfilling age appropriate adult social roles and positive life experiences. 

Pathways Toward Positive Psychosocial Outcomes and Mental Health for Youth with Disabilities

Gorter, J. W., Stewart, D., Smith, M. W., King, G., Wright, M., Nguyen, T., Freeman, M., & Swinton, M. (2014). Pathways toward positive psychosocial outcomes and Mental Health for Youth With Disabilities: A knowledge synthesis of developmental trajectories. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 33(1), 45–61. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2014-005 

Positive Psychosocial Outcomes and Mental Health for Youth with Disabilities Reference

- Children with disabilities, especially physical ones, are at higher risk of social isolation and lower community participation which can affect self-esteem and feeling of belonging amongst their peers and greater society
- They are more likely to participate in socially isolating activities 
- Children who have disabilities that limit the ability to physically go places have higher rates of mental health disorders


Risks for Youth with Disabilities

Developmental Tracks and Youth with Disabilities

Undoubtedly, type of disability plays a massive role in a person’s experience across the previously mentioned spheres. However, there are several challenges people of all disabilities face across the lifespan.

Common Issues Across Youth with Disabilities

The developmental trajectories of youth with disabilities is generally poorer than nondisabled youth. It is important to consider the interaction of environment and personal circumstance on mental health outcomes and developmental tracks. Opportunities, especially during times of transition, heavily influence developmental trajectory, with peer relationships and social inclusion being prominent factors as well. A growing amount of research shows that if provided the same opportunities for societal inclusion, people with disabilities will develop similarly to their peers.  

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