Chapter 2: Career and College Counseling With Students With Learning and Cognitive Disabilities

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (2023), the most represented categories for students with disabilities were specific learning disabilities (32%), speech or language impairments (16%), autism (12%), intellectual disabilities (6%), and emotional disabilities (5%). To protect the rights of individuals with disabilities, there has been legislation put into place that ensures opportunities for higher education and attainment of employment. In an effort to best support individuals with cognitive and learning differences, it is noted that focus should be on work inclusion and transitions and on the long-term career goal of the individual (Nota et al., 2010).