Predictors Associated With Paid Employment Status of Community and Technical College Students With Intellectual Disability.

The team looked at college students with intellectual disability.

They asked which school activities led to paid jobs at or above minimum wage.

Data came from community and technical colleges.

Four things boosted wage-level employment.

Inclusive classes, campus events, earlier paid work, and volunteer service all helped.

Students who did these things were more likely to earn at least minimum wage.

Holwerda et al. (2013) studied younger teens with mild ID.

They found motivation and realistic job hopes predicted work.

The new study moves the lens to college and names concrete campus actions.

Wehman et al. (2014) and Iwanaga et al. (2025) show Supported Employment programs raise job placement.

Their work extends these findings by proving what students can do themselves before formal services start.

Mulder et al. (2020) add that any prior integrated work predicts future integrated work, matching the “earlier paid work” predictor found here.

You can build these four experiences into transition plans right now.

Schedule at least one inclusive course, require campus event attendance, and set up volunteer slots with job-like expectations.

Track paid summer jobs before college starts.

These low-cost steps can raise the odds your students land real wages after graduation.