Background: The importance of using evidence to inform the policymaking process has been well established in the literature and practice. In Western countries evidence-based policy (EBP) is already accepted and implemented in many policy areas, including disability policy. In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) the interest in EBP (evidence-based…

Full participation is recognized as fundamental for the inclusion and wellbeing of people with intellectual disabilities. Only few studies have identified subjective meanings of participation from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities themselves. Three cross-cutting themes that arise in the few studies that have are…

This study looks at the career choices of early adult girls with intellectual disability. Trade of vocation refers to the types of vocational environment and location i.e., open employment, sheltered employment and home-based employment. The present study aims to investigate the preferred trade of vocation for early adulthood girls with…

Western governments have emphasized paid work as a key route to social inclusion for disabled people. Although the proportion of disabled people in "mainstream" employment has increased in recent decades, rates remain significantly below those for non-disabled people. Moreover, disabled workers continue to face discrimination and a lack of…

Study design: A systematic review of the literature. Objectives: To investigate community participation of persons with an intellectual disability (ID) as reported in empirical research studies. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted for the period of 1996-2006 on PubMed, CINAHL and PSYCINFO. Search terms were derived from the…

Background: Access to employment for people with intellectual disability (ID) has become a social priority. The aim of the present study is to try to determine which variables [sociodemographic variables, intelligence quotient (IQ), presence or absence of a psychiatric disorder, functioning, self-determination, and behavioural problems] could most…

The author examines the history of segregation for blind and handicapped persons and the relationship of segregation to social attitudes and opportunities. He also questions the relevance of sheltered workshops today. The El Paso Lighthouse "enclave with industry" program is presented as one model for moving toward a "natural proportion"…

Comparisons of the nature and frequency of the instructional interactions and work-related behavior of 15 workers in nonsheltered vocational environments with 15 in sheltered environments revealed that the workers in sheltered environments engaged in significantly more instructional interactions with supervisors and exhibited significantly fewer…

Recent efforts have been made to transform traditional sheltered workshop employment to transitional employment training in nonsheltered sites for mentally retarded young adults and adults. Benefits (both monetary and nonmonetary) to the individual, employer, and society are described. Disincentives in the financial system are cited as creating a…

Personal interviews and agency records were used to examine month-by-month vocational histories of 53 sheltered workshop employees placed in competitive jobs. Most participants who were still employed after four to five years had parental support, while those who returned to the workshop or were unemployed did not. (Author/CL)

While supported employment has made significant gains since its formal introduction in 1984 (P. L. 98-527), segregated services continue to outpace the growth of supported employment. We discuss these and other important trends in this article, and conclude with recommendations that include (1) ensuring that all young adults leave high school…

A survey of 216 adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities who belong to self-advocacy groups found that individuals unemployed and employed in sheltered settings perceived themselves as having less control than individuals employed competitively. Results are examined in light of quality of life findings, focusing on the need to include…

The follow-up study of 58 persons with severe mental retardation who had exited self-contained special education programs from 1983 to 1985 found 57 percent were placed in sheltered workshops or day activity centers, 15 percent received formal postsecondary training, 62 percent resided in their family homes, and 26 percent lived in group homes.…

Analysis of a questionnaire completed by 44 young adults with intellectual disabilities and 29 nondisabled peers found that (1) both groups preferred competitive employment to unemployment; (2) those with intellectual disabilities had lower psychological well-being; (3) those with intellectual disabilities in competitive employment had greater job…

A study investigated the circumstances and views of 16 individuals 8 years after participation in one agency's conversion from a sheltered workshop to an exclusively community employment service. Most participants associated the agency's changeover with long-term, personal benefits, including community employment opportunities, increased income,…