Postsecondary credential attainment and labour market outcomes for Ontario students with disabilities

In this report, the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) examines the experiences and outcomes of Ontarians with disabilities in the context of the education system, with a focus on postsecondary education (PSE). The report includes a review of provincial policies and processes that provide support for students with disabilities from K-12 through postsecondary and presents findings from analysis of the National Graduate Survey and the General Social Survey to assess the PSE participation and labor market outcomes of individuals with disabilities in Ontario.

In PSE, due in part to confidentiality and disclosure rules for adults, students with disabilities must seek out and activate supports on their own. In the transition from high school to postsecondary, students with disabilities shift from a system of support driven by the institution to a system of support driven by the individual. This shifting policy context serves as a backdrop for students with disabilities as they make decisions about postsecondary education.

HEQCO's analysis reveals that individuals with disabilities do not participate in PSE at a rate comparable to those without disabilities. One of the most salient findings is that disability type matters - a lot. Students with learning disabilities, mental health disabilities and physical disabilities are the least likely to participate in any type of postsecondary program, especially programs at or beyond the bachelor's level. Postsecondary graduates with learning, physical and mental health disabilities also report significantly worse labor market outcomes compared to those without a disability across several metrics. The negative outcomes extend to issues of well-being, as individuals with disabilities report greater stress and experience a greater impact of health on their well-being and career decisions. Perhaps our most troubling finding was that labor market gaps for individuals with disabilities manifest immediately after graduation. HEQCO offers a series of recommendations for the postsecondary sector to consider when designing programs and systems of support for students with disabilities.

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