Students’ Voices: How Does Education in Iceland Prepare Young Disabled People for Adulthood?

Table 1

Disability labelsnCognitive18Multiple2Physical7Sensory (3 deaf/hard of hearing, 1 visual impairment)4Emotional (autism)2Physical illness/accident3Total36Almost all the young adults were identified as significantly disabled according to the Icelandic Disability Pension regulations and all were entitled to disability pension paid by the National Social Security Bureau. Many had been given additional disability labels. In most instances the primary label was “mental retardation” or “physical disability”, sometimes with an additional condition.

Table 2

School typeHomeWorkplaceRegionSpecial school0Parental home22Regular work4Reykjavík and greater Reykjavík area16Special class in high school12Own flat/living alone/living with partner8Sheltered workshop7Towns and villages16Regular upper secondary school/tertiary education/university11Group home5Unemployed but available to work1Farms4Adult education for disabled learner4Other1Farms127 Total36 Total13 Total36 Total

Table 3

Special school onlyMoved from special class to special schoolSpecial class onlyMoved from typical class to special class/ special schoolRegular school only5^*1^†5^‡7^§18^¶ Total 36^*4 labelled Intellectually disabled, 1 multi-disabled. ^† 1 labelled multi-disabled. ^‡ 3 labelled Intellectually disabled, 1 physically disabled, 1 Asperger's syndrome. ^§ 4 labelled Intellectually disabled, 2 deaf, 1 physically disabled. ^¶ 7 labelled Intellectually disabled, 5 physically disabled, 5 multi-disabled, 1 autistic.

Table 4

General/comprehensive gymnasium commercial collegeUniversitySpecial class comprehensive technical collegeAdult education for students with disabilitiesOther; compulsory education, not in school, etc.921546