Relationships between individual characteristics and occupational possibilities for young adults with visual impairments

Abstract

Individuals with disabilities highlight the importance of having career options, as these people are more likely to have narrowed occupational possibilities and to be employed in part-time and contingent jobs. This study explores (a) the range of occupational possibilities that according to Holland’s Self- Directed Search (SDS) Questionnaire most closely resemble the personality types of 55 young adults with visual impairments, b) the impact of individual characteristics on occupational possibilities, and c) the differences between sighted adults and adults with visual impairments regarding the SDS Questionnaire scores for the six personality types (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional). The research instrument was the SDS Questionnaire of Holland. The study results showed that the occupational possibilities for young adults with visual impairments relate mostly to social occupations. Individual characteristics also were found to be significant predictors of individual types according to the SDS Questionnaire. In addition, differences emerged from the comparison between adults with visual impairments and sighted adults in regard to the six personality types identified by Holland, based on the normative data. The study revealed that individual characteristics of young adults with visual impairments play an important role in their occupational possibilities.