Date
5-16-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Chair
Stacey Lilley
Keywords
young adults with disabilities, intellectual disabilities, community-based program, transitional losses, ecological model
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
McKinnon, Jon Christopher, "Avoiding the Cliff: A Case Study Exploring a Community-Based Program Working with Young Adults with Disabilities" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5539.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5539
Abstract
When young adults with disabilities (YAWD) age out of the system, they face what has colloquially been termed “the cliff,” which symbolizes the sudden drop in services that occur as they transition out of high school; needs previously met at school are left unaddressed. Multiple options have been suggested to meet these needs, including employment, vocational rehab, sheltered workshops, supported employment, postsecondary education, and volunteering. Despite this, options for YAWD remain limited, especially when they have intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to understand how Top Crops, a community-based program in Bowling Green, KY, helps meet the needs of young adults with intellectual disabilities after they complete high school. Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological model was the theory that guided this study, as the program allows participants to engage with community members across multiple contexts. Data were collected through observation, document analysis, and semistructured interviews with participants, parents, and program directors. Categories were developed from the data and used to identify how Top Crops addresses the needs of young adults with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, findings revealed that Top Crops helps to meet some of the parents’ needs and influences the community’s perception of the capabilities of YAWD.
