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MEAF SURVEY February 2009

posted March 04, 2009
CRITICAL NEEDS OF YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES AND YOUTH SERVING-ORGANIZATIONS

SURVEY RESULTS SUMMARY

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation recently conducted a survey to help identify the critical needs facing youth with disabilities and youth-serving organizations during this time of economic upheaval. MEAF asked its advisors, staff, grant partners, and youth with disabilities themselves to rank their priority issue areas.

About the Survey Participants
- There were 81 respondents, including: 15 students, 51 nonprofits, 11 government agencies, 8 educational institutions, and 8 family members of a person with a disability. *
- Responses from people representing each age group (under 14, 19-24, 25-35, 36+) were fairly evenly divided (17-23 representatives in each age group).
- 44 self-identified as having a disability and 52 represented organizations that directly serve youth with disabilities.
- 41 indicated they work in disability policy / advocacy, 38 in education, 34 in leadership development, 31 in disability services, 30 in employment, 27 in sports / recreation / after-school, and 25 in independent living. 32 said that they are self-advocates and 17 are volunteers. *

* Note: Respondents could select more than one answer.

Critical Needs of Youth with Disabilities
Survey participants were asked to rank the top three areas of critical need.
- Employment training/internships had the most overall responses—26, and the highest amount of second place rankings (15).
- Leadership/advocacy training came in second with 23 responses.
- Greater public awareness about inclusion received the third highest overall responses—20, and the highest number of third place rankings (13).
- Employment placements and supports came in fourth with 17 responses; however, it had the highest number of first place rankings (10).
- Inclusive K-12 education came in fifth with 16 responses.
- Other frequently mentioned areas included access to disability services (13), independent living options (12), access to higher education (11), and social networking opportunities (10). Two respondents each also wrote in “transition from school to work” and “true inclusion/acceptance” as primary needs.

The picture changed somewhat when respondents were asked, “Given the above priorities, what area would benefit most from receiving modest funding?” Employment training and leadership/advocacy training flipped ranks, with 27 selecting Leadership/advocacy training (18 marked it as their number one choice). The rank of the other priority areas remained virtually the same.

When asked to offer thoughts about their priorities, respondents added the following:
- A number mentioned some variation on the need for bullying prevention, empowerment, respect, and appreciation of diversity.
- Others indicated the need to “update our framework for thinking” to be life-long learners in today’s technical age, changing public opinion through the strategic use of new media, and ensuring youth with disabilities have social networking opportunities through use of technology.

Critical Needs of Youth-Serving Organizations
Survey participants were also asked to indicate the critical needs -- aside from funding -- facing nonprofits that serve youth.
- Including the youth perspective received the most overall votes (27), with 14 placing it as the second most important need.
- Strategic planning and Evaluating/measuring impact received 18 votes each, with 12 putting strategic planning in first place and 7 placing evaluation in first and 7 in second place.
- Utilizing new media also got 18 votes, followed closely by staff training/ development with 17, and leadership transition concerns and grantsmanship received 13 votes each.

In a February meeting to analyze the survey results, the MEAF Advisory Committee identified a number of other issue areas, including:
- Health care services -- particularly in the mental health area, where the consequences of the Virginia Tech shootings have exacerbated stigmatization and isolation.
- Development of "soft skills" that enable youth to get hired and remain in stable employment.
- Lack of coordination between Disability Support Service and Career Service offices on campus.
- The digital divide is growing wider between youth with and without access to the assistive tech and emerging technologies that are essential to 21st century career success.

These results will be factored into planning at MEAF for how to best deploy resources in these challenging times. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. [contact us]

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
1560 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 1150
Arlington, VA 22209