Employment Support Strategies for University Students With Developmental Disabilities in Japan

This chapter examines the characteristics of students with developmental disabilities and the challenges faced by university career centers in providing job readiness education. Using data from a 2014 nationwide survey of 751 career centers in Japan, 247 valid responses (34.2%) were analyzed. The survey assessed center characteristics, student profiles, support practices, and perceived difficulties in teaching job readiness skills (“teachability”). Methods included cluster analysis, LASSO regression, and multinomial logistic regression. Three career center types emerged: Cluster 1 showed high teachability in basic job preparation but struggled with self-understanding; Cluster 2 showed low teachability; and Cluster 3 excelled in self-awareness and career planning. Findings highlight the need to strengthen primary support and integrate self-awareness guidance to improve job readiness.