Public views on employment of people with intellectual disabilities

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Burge, Philip^; | Ouellette-Kuntz, Hélène^{; ;} | Lysaght, Rosemary^;

Affiliations: Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada | South Eastern Ontario Community-University Research Alliance in Intellectual Disabilities, Canada | Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada | School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Philip Burge, Queen's University, c/o Ongwanada, 191 Portsmouth Ave, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7M 8A6. Tel.: +1 613 548 4417; Fax: +1 613 549 7387; E-mail: burgep@post.queensu.ca

Abstract: Understanding the views of the public is an important factor in building effective programs that promote integrated employment. This article presents the results of a study conducted by an alliance of researchers and community partners to elucidate public perceptions regarding work inclusion of people with an intellectual disability. The study consisted of a telephone poll conducted throughout a large region of the Province of Ontario, Canada. A majority of the 680 respondents believed that some form of integrated work is best for most adults with an intellectual disability. About 87% of respondents believed that hiring people with intellectual disabilities would not negatively affect the image of workplaces. Respondents indicated that a lack of employment training programs for people with intellectual disabilities was a major obstacle to increased inclusion.

Keywords: Employment, work, attitudes, intellectual disabilities, developmental disability, mental retardation, integration, inclusion

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 29-37, 2007