Quality of Life Outcomes of Supported Employment

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings of a qualitative study of supported employment. The purpose of the study was to trace the process whereby people with a developmental handicap entered supported employment and became employed in regular jobs, and to consider the quality of life of those individuals. The quality of life of all participants was considerably enhanced as a result of the supported employment experience. The study also identified several problem areas and strategies for improving supported employment, particularly with respect to providing unobtrusive support in the workplace and facilitating social integration of the employee.

Predictors of life satisfaction in individuals with intellectual disabilities

“…This finding is inconsistent with most prior research which has shown the benefits of competitive and supported employment to the QOL of persons with ID (Inge et al. 1988; Pedlar et al. 1990; Sinnott‐Oswald et al.…”

“…Productivity also contributed to the overall significance of the set of higher-order predictor variables, but it did not contribute individually to life satisfaction. This finding is inconsistent with most prior research which has shown the benefits of competitive and supported employment to the QOL of persons with ID (Inge et al 1988;Pedlar et al 1990;Sinnott-Oswald et al 1991;Eggleton et al 1999;Schalock et al 2000;Kober & Eggleton 2005). However, many previous studies have utilised the total score of the QOLQ or other objective measures as the criterion variable.…”

“…Research has repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of competitive and supported employment to QOL (both objectively and subjectively measured) in individuals with ID over sheltered employment or no work at all (Inge et al. 1988; Pedlar et al. 1990; Sinnott‐Oswald et al.…”

“…Research has repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of competitive and supported employment to QOL (both objectively and subjectively measured) in individuals with ID over sheltered employment or no work at all (Inge et al 1988;Pedlar et al 1990;Sinnott-Oswald et al 1991;Eggleton et al 1999;Schalock et al 2000;Kober & Eggleton 2005). Eggleton et al (1999) reported no statistically significant difference in the QOLQ scores of individuals attending sheltered workshops and those remaining at home.…”

The effect of different types of employment on quality of life

“…These results are consistent with the findings of prior research (Inge et al . 1988; Pedlar et al . 1990; Sinnott‐Oswald et al .…”