Recent policies and government initiatives in many Western countries have strengthened the expectation that young disabled people have the right to be involved in decisions affecting their futures. Many of the choices that are currently taken out of young disabled people’s hands, including those relating to education and future employment, are now being viewed as an opportunity to encourage participation in the decision making process. Sonali Shah uses a comparative study of young disabled students within mainstream and special education to determine the influence these recent policies will have on the realization of their long term goals. Young Disabled People: Aspirations, Choices and Constraints will be essential reading for academics in the fields of education, disability studies and employment policy. It will also be valuable to policy makers and teaching and careers professionals.

Improving educational attainment and raising employment rates among disadvantaged groups are key targets for the current government. This report shows that for one important group - disabled young people - these goals are far from being achieved. The report analyses nationally representative data to show that parental background is more important than disability status in shaping young people's aspirations; despite high aspirations, educational and occupational outcomes are significantly worse for disabled young people and the gap between disabled and non-disabled young people's experiences widens as they get older. The report argues that while mainstream and comprehensive education may have succeeded in raising aspirations for disabled young people, this has not been translated into real opportunities in early adult life. It also highlights the need for a new direction in careers advice and welfare to work programmes. Frustrated ambition: The education and employment of disabled young people is essential reading for academics, policymakers and practitioners with an interest in the role aspirations play in education and employment.