Affiliations: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disability
and Community, Bloomington, IN, USA | Indiana University School of Education, Indianapolis,
IN, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Alberto Migliore, Indiana
University, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, 2853 East 10th
Street, Bloomington, IN 47408, USA. Tel.: +1 812 855 8128; Fax: +1 812 855
9630; E-mail: amiglior@gmail.com
Abstract: Despite national and state policies promoting integrated employment,
the majority of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (76%)
are served in facility-based programs. This article focuses on whether or not
this gap between policy and practice is in part due to the lack of interest of
adults with intellectual disabilities and their families for employment outside
facility-based programs. Results are based on the answers given by 210 adults
with intellectual disabilities in 19 sheltered workshops, their respective
families or caregivers (N=185), and staff members in these workshops (N=224).
Results show that the majority of respondents would either like
employment outside sheltered workshops or at least consider it an option.
Moreover, the majority of respondents believe that adults with intellectual
disabilities can perform outside workshops, if support is made available if
needed. It is noteworthy that the preference for employment outside of
workshops is not associated with the severity of the disability. Based on these findings, this study supports the literature that
advocates for system change policy promoting the employment of adults with
intellectual disabilities in the general labor market.
