Individuals with disabilities were long considered the most stigmatized and marginalized population in society. In response to that, substantial research initiatives were conducted in the discussion of stigma and its impact on individuals with disabilities. However, the literature has been mainly directed toward those with mental illness; little was discussed for another subgroup of the population such as transition-age individuals with disabilities. Further, its relationship with other psychological factors (i.e., basic psychological needs; autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and their impact on career outcomes were seldom construed as a necessary research topic. To address a research gap, the current study aimed to (a) examine the relationship between self-stigma, self-determination, and career outcomes among transition-age individuals with disabilities and (b) suggest a new theory-driven and empirically validated model with the constructs of interest. The current research was designed as a cross-sectional survey study by recruiting eligible participants who are identified as transition-age individuals with disabilities and asking them to complete a 15-20 minutes survey. For the data analysis, the study used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test a model fit and estimate path parameters. This study is expected to serve as the first research attempt to identify the full range of dynamics between self-stigma, self-determination, and career outcomes and outline a new conceptual framework to explain career preparation and outcomes among transition-age individuals with disabilities.
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