“I Don’t Know that Any Level of Support Could Have Prepared Me”: The Postsecondary Experiences of Blind and Low Vision Young Adults

The early adulthood experiences of blind and low vision (B/LV) individuals can elucidate the extent to which their special education and transition services were adequate for equipping them for their post-school goals. Nonetheless, little is known from the past decade about these individuals’ perceptions and experiences in the years following graduation. We surveyed 33 B/LV young adults aged 18-25 and employed descriptive analyses of quantitative and qualitative data about a range of early adulthood experiences. The majority of participants had worked for pay, were enrolled in postsecondary education, and were living with their families. Although they collectively described beneficial accommodations and expressed satisfaction with their early adult lives, multiple B/LV individuals called for more support in navigating post-school settings, community involvement, and relationships. Our findings include important implications for research and practice, emphasizing more effective leveraging of special education services toward equipping B/LV students for their future goals.