Triangle SST program: Safety and self-advocacy training for successful transitions from school to adult life

Individuals with disabilities in the U.S. continue to have worse employment outcomes and experience a greater rate of poverty than the general population.1,2 Programs that focus on developing workforce skills and employment opportunities for young adults transitioning from school to career aim to address these issues. However, given that people with disabilities experience twice the level of violence as do people without disabilities,3 the period of transition brings with it increased vulnerability to abuse as individuals join the general workforce, travel to and from worksites, and move out of school and sheltered environments. To successfully engage this population in positive work experiences and prepare for safe futures as adults, transition programs need to focus on developing participants' safety and self-advocacy skills. In 2011, a collaboration of agencies developed ‘Safety and Self-Advocacy Training for Successful Transitions from School to Adult Life' (SST) as a demonstration project to teach participants safety and self-advocacy strategies and explore the feasibility of implementing interventions in an established school-to-career program. Three groups of school-to-career participants took part in 10 consecutive weeks of SST sessions. The study used a pre/post design with comparison group and mixed methods. Despite some limitations, e.g. a small sample size, this pilot study produced preliminary evidence of program effectiveness and feasibility. Analysis found statistically significant changes in participants around safety and self-advocacy knowledge, self determination, and confidence. A subpopulation of participants experienced statistically significant change in self-efficacy. Participants enjoyed the training and parents supported its inclusion in a school-to-career program.