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)

Followed up was the employment status of 229 physically disabled persons served by a community workshop program. (DB)

The manual describes the Focus Expanded Placement Process, an approach to implementing training programs in sheltered work centers. Trainers are offered solutions to common problems, with sections on the following topics: breaking down initial resistance to training; individualizing training; creating a learning atmosphere; making training…

The article delineates guidelines for use by a small sheltered workshop in obtaining contract employment for its handicapped clients. (CL)