Career Needs of Students With Disabilities in Federal University of Lafia

Abstract

This study examined career needs of students with disabilities in Federal University of Lafia. Four research questions guided the study. A descriptive survey research design was employed in this study and was conducted in the Department of Special Needs Education. The population of the study comprised of 20 students with various forms of disabilities, including 10 hearing impaired, 4 visually impaired, 3 with learning disability, 2 amputees and 1 with cerebral palsy. The study employed purposive sampling technique to select the appropriate sample size for the study. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0, applying percentage and frequency for demographic information and descriptive statistics (mean) for research questions. The findings revealed that many internship and job programmes do not prioritize accessibility, making it difficult for students with disabilities to participate. The results found that most career workshops did not cater for the needs of students with disabilities, making it difficult for them to gain the skills required for the workforce. The study indicated that the presence of assistive technology in career services helps students become more familiar with tools and understand how they can support diverse talents. It was therefore, recommended that government should fund research on the career development needs of students with disabilities in higher education and use the findings to develop informed policies and guidelines.