Enhancing self-determination in job matching in supported employment for people with learning disabilities: An intervention study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kilsby, Mark S. | Beyer, Stephen

Affiliations: Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities Applied Research Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine, Meridian Court, North Rd., Cardiff, UK. Tel.: +44 1222 691795; Fax: +44 1222 61081; E-mail: kilsbyms@cf.ac.uk

Abstract: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of two interventions employed to assist job seekers with mental retardation to increase self-determined vocational choices. A job taster programme was set up in two South Wales supported employment agencies. During baseline, job coaches were provided with no specific instructions. Intervention 1 comprised a one-day training package to teach job coaches the principles of self-determination and encourage the use of structured job reviews following each job taster. Intervention 2 comprised the introduction of a pictorial job review profile aimed at increasing job seeker independence in the review procedure. Results suggested that job seeker self-determination was enhanced through the project, indicated by a high degree of job seeker accuracy in reporting factual aspects of their experiences accompanied by a drop in the rate of job coach assistance.

Keywords: self-determination, job-matching, autonomy, accuracy of recall, choice consistency

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 125-135, 2002