Abstract:
This paper reports the results of a qualitative research study of vocationally competent people with mild intellectual disailities. The study identified many factors inside and outside the individual that allowed them to maintain employment.
One of the most significant of these factors that emerged from the study was the importance of family in the indivuals efforts to maintain employment.
The subjects ranged inage from 16-25 years and were clients of a Competitive Employment and Training Program. The subjects were purposely sampled using an objective test and the criteria of having maintained employment for 6 months after support was withdrawn by the employment agency.
The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the subjects and their parents. The results indicated that certain family characterisitcs led to more successful outcomes.
One of the most significant of these factors that emerged from the study was the importance of family in the indivuals efforts to maintain employment.
The subjects ranged inage from 16-25 years and were clients of a Competitive Employment and Training Program. The subjects were purposely sampled using an objective test and the criteria of having maintained employment for 6 months after support was withdrawn by the employment agency.
The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the subjects and their parents. The results indicated that certain family characterisitcs led to more successful outcomes.