Affiliations: KARE, Lower Eyre Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland | St. Michael's House Research, Dublin, Ireland
Note: [] Corresponding author.
Note: [] Material cited in tables in this article previously appeared in Walsh et al. (1994), and is reproduced here with permission of the publisher.
Note: [] Present address: Department of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract: In 1988, St. Michael's House Research in Dublin, Ireland undertook a 3-year innovative project, OPEN ROAD, in order to promote the social and vocational integration of adults with more severe levels of intellectual disability (mental retardation). Specifically, OPEN ROAD worked with persons who had never been employed and who had never taken part in any type of vocational training. This paper describes OPEN ROAD's (1) small-scale yet radical departure from traditional services; (2) systems conversion which underlay all phases of the operation; and (3) key outcomes for participants, their families, employers and members of staff. In addition, emergent issues which continue to shape the growth of the Supported Employment movement in Europe will be presented.
Keywords: OPEN ROAD, Intellectual disability, Social and vocational integration
