An Examination of the Correlation Between Prior Experience of Working with People with Disabilities and Choosing Special Education as a Major

Over the past 45 years, the supply and demand of the special educator has ebbed and flowed, but in most recent times the shortage of qualified special educators has hit a significant point of crisis across the nation causing challenges for school districts to provide the services mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. One mechanism to reduce the special educator shortage is for more high school students to choose special education as a major and future career. This study examined the perspectives of current special education majors and the factors that influenced their decision of major choice and examined the degree special education majors report previous experiences with people with disabilities as the greatest factor in their choice of major. The study further researched the degree past Unified Sports Program (USP) participants choose a major related to special education or related services at a higher rate than other majors. Data was gathered through two surveys administered to two different types of subjects, special education majors and past USP participants. Survey participants responded to Likert scaled statements rating their perception of its influence on their choice of major or future career choice. This study evidenced that prior experience of working with students with disabilities was one of the highest influencing factors when choosing special education as a major. Due to a low response rate, further research is needed to determine the degree of influence USP has on choice of special education as a major.