Region 5: The Punch-in Network and Online Social/professional Networking Amongst Youth With Disabilities

The goal of this research is understand how youth with disabilities engage with online social and professional networking sites during the job search process. Information from this study will be used to better explore how different social and professional network sites can be tailored to best assist youth with disabilities learn about self-advocacy and disability rights. This research will take place in two phases. First, an exploratory survey will be used identify how and where youth with disabilities access information about disability rights online. We will use this information on this survey to update technical assistance modules available on the Punch-in Network. Lastly, we will conduct follow-up survey to how engagement with specific facets of the Punch-in Network relate to changes in various job-seeking behaviors over time.