<p>It depends on what the handicaps are and what the career choices are that the student takes. I know someone whose two sons just could not do well on standarized tests, though they were excellent students and I’d hire them in an instant to get work done, as they are hard working , honest, diligent and completeists. And those who did get to know them did hire them and they are doing very well career wise now that they are well in their 30s. But one did try to take some career paths where he ran into brick walls because of his issues. Not going to say it is not a stumbling block, because, yes it is. </p>
<p>Another friend whose DD could not do well on the GRE, still got coveted positions in her field of study as she had great grades and recs, and knew her stuff. But, yes, her test score probably kept her out of her first choice programs (coldn’t be her grades as she had a 4.0 and her work experience was way up there). And it was a heart break. My close friend’s DD could not get into any of the very top schools for UG or for law, Always a WL. She graduated in three years from college with a double major, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, but Ivy or top 13 law schools would not take her. But, she graduated top of her class from law school and is on the partner track of a major law firm making over a quarter million a year after just a few years (2 clerkships with judges) after graduating. Not too shabby. Few, very few grads from the very top law schools are doing as well as she. But she could not score well on the LSAT or SAT1 or any standardized test, ever despite studying , studying , studying and being tutored up the whazoo.</p>
<p>Sadly, a lot of kids who have issues, and they don’t have to be identified disabilities, are going to find the “real world” tough going. IT all comes down to being able to support yourself and in what style, and getting paid for services and skills is a whole other story than when you are looking to PAY for others to serve you. I know a number of kids on the autism spectrum or with minor disabilities who simply cannot find much work and are still not self sufficient. That’s also the case with many college grads who have other things that make them less than prime candidates for the rare jobs. Unless you get a skill that is highly desired, making a good living is not easy to do. There are often far more candidates for prized jobs, and the employers have their pick. One needs to find skills that are needed and harder to find if there are inssues involved. </p>
<p>Though it is illegal to discriminate due to disabilities and accommodations are supposed to be made, when it comes to business, most employers and companies want as much flex as possible from an employee. Any time and money that they have to spend in accommodations and working out things come off the bottom line. I hired the most wonderful receptionist once, who simply could not alphabetize or do certain other things that did not seem to be a huge problem, but it regularly popped up as an issue. She could do her prescribed job but ask her to get a file, and it just could not be done. In a fast moving business, she was an unmovable part which as a clear disadvantage though she was an A-1 receptionist in every way. Though we were able to work with her, we did have to make that effort. When the company was sold, she was let go within a month. The new management had no desire to make the accommodations she needed.</p>