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…

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…

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

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

Project ADVANCE currently provides vocational training to 26 deaf-blind adolescents and young adults attending Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. The project has developed community work sites in four different vocational options: (1) competitive employment, (2) a student operated small business, (3) sheltered enclave within…

A work orientation unit for handicapped persons is located in a British College and promotes vocational, educational and recreational skill learning. (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…

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…

Presented are results from a survey of 2,530 sheltered workshop programs serving handicapped persons. Initial sections review the historical development of workshops, federal regulations affecting workshops, and previous related studies. Data are provided on the following topics: characteristics of workshops and clients (including a table on…

Iowa high school graduates (n=322) with mental disabilities were interviewed one and three years after graduation, concerning general status, employment, and adult adjustment. Over the postgraduation period, subjects became more independent in living arrangements and increased the number of hours per week of employment, but only approximately 20%…

The parents of 14 Iowa individuals with severe/profound mental disabilities were interviewed 1 and 3 years after their sons/daughters graduated from or "aged out" of high school. Two categories of information were sought concerning the adult adjustment of these individuals: (1) general status variables including marital status, place of…

This research brief reports on selected findings from a longitudinal study conducted at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota. The study identified the postschool status of young adults and adults with moderate and severe disabilities, and changes in that status over time. Specifically, this study examined the postschool…