Chapter 1: Introduction
While there are currently community-based services to help support individuals with developmental disabilities, there are still a great number of individuals failing to meet the milestones of adulthood.
-social inclusion→ human right
-transition to employment both supported and independent
-independent meaning they perform independently at their job, not that they own their own business/ company.
Problem Statement
Individuals with developmental disabilities, educators, families, service providers, employers, community members, business owners and various other stakeholders could benefit from additional knowledge pertaining to employment opportunities and barriers for individuals with developmental disabilities engaging in the transition to supported and independent employment. Supported employment interventions help people with developmental disabilities overcome barriers into adulthood and can lead to independent employment opportunities (Schal, 2020). Supported employment has been labeled with extreme importance to help multiple parties (Shattuck, 2011) but research is still lacking from the perspective of individuals with developmental disabilities. In order to secure and maintain gainful and competitive employment for individuals with developmental disabilities further investigation needs to be done on the transition to employment through the direct point of view of individuals with developmental disabilities engaging in supported employment and independent employment.
Theoretical Rationale
A qualitative phenomenological design will be utilized to examine the experiences of adults with developmental disabilities as they transition into supported and independent employment settings. The theoretical foundation for this study will be Schlossberg’s transition theory. Schlossberg’s theory can be viewed through a psychosocial lens. Schlossberg believed it was necessary to “ develop a framework that would facilitate an understanding of adults in transition and aid them in connecting to the help they needed to cope with the ‘ordinary and extraordinary process of living’” (Evans et al., 2010, p. 213) Additionally, Schlossberg transition theory provides insight into elements of transition by examining the environment, the support systems in place, and the individual engaging in the environment.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this study is to research employment policies and practices through the direct lens of individuals with developmental disabilities transitioning into supported employment as well as independent employment.
Research Questions
To what extent do individual, societal and environmental factors play a role in impacting outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities transitioning into supported and independent work settings?
How does stigma impact employment outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities?
To what degree do individuals with developmental disabilities value personal job satisfaction, social interaction opportunities, employment benefits, rate of pay and availability of hours?
What barriers do individuals with developmental disabilities face when they are transitioning into supported and independent employment opportunities?
List weaknesses or problems that may affect the results of the study.
Potential Significance of the Study
As more research begins to address the drought of available supported employment information through the direct lens of individuals with developmental disabilities, more opportunities may arise.
Definitions of Terms
Developmental Disabilities-
Supported Employment-
Community Inclusion-
Deinstitutionalization-
Independent Employment-
Volunteer Work-
Inclusion-
Stigma-
Chapter Summary