Affiliations: Centre for Developmental Disability Studies & The
University of Sydney, NSW, Australia | University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Vivienne C. Riches, Centre for
Developmental Disability Studies, PO Box 6, Ryde, NSW 1680, Australia. Tel.:
+61 2 88780500; Fax: +61 2 98077053; E-mail: vriches@med.usyd.edu.au
Abstract: Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related
to the degree to which they are physically and socially integrated into the
work environment. This study sought to explore the extent to which workers
(N = 71) with disabilities were experiencing integration
from the perspective of Supervisors (N = 65), Co-workers
N = 63) and Employment Specialists (N =
67) located in 64 open and supported employment sites across
Australia. The participants completed questionnaires that addressed the
following areas: workplace conditions, social interaction in the workplace,
appropriateness of particular social behaviors, and attitudes to employees with
disabilities. Overall, the findings revealed a considerable amount of agreement
between the three groups of participants. The results showed that people with
disabilities who were employed in entry level jobs across a range of
work-places were considered to be valued members of the workforce. The majority
of supervisors and co-workers indicated that the person with a disability was
engaged in the social life of the workplace, although co-workers were less
positive. Perceived differences on task related social skills and actual job
performed appeared likely contributors to this finding. Finally, the positive
attitudes being expressed towards those people with disabilities in this study
by all three groups suggest that having direct experience with employees with
disabilities in open employment situations can have a positive effect. The
findings are discussed in light of the need for further research that seeks to
understand the formation of friendships by adults with disabilities. Social
integration in the workplace is only the first step toward the formation of
reciprocal friendships.
Keywords: integration, social inclusion, attitudes, perceptions, behaviour
