Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T19:59:25.990Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Employer Receptivity to Hiring a Mentally Retarded Person

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2016

A. T. Haines  and
K. Davidson
A. T. Haines
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania
K. Davidson
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The study analysed employer receptivity to hiring mentally retarded persons. A stratified random sample of 100 employers in the Hobart area were sent a two part questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire was designed to replicate Mahoney’s (1976b) Melbourne study of employers’ attitudes to the mentally retarded. A comparison of the Hobart and Melbourne data indicated that in both samples the variables of age, educational level, size of organization and the number of mentally retarded persons previously employed were all related to positive employer attitudes. The second part of the questionnaire was concerned with Hobart employers’ attitudes towards a Job Try-Out program. The major finding revealed that employers’ willingness to cooperate in this type of program was strongly related to their willingness to hire successful candidates from such programs on a permanent basis. The implications of these findings were discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Australasian Journal of Special Education , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , November 1982 , pp. 11 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © The Australian Association of Special Education 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dunn, D. J. et al., Placement Services in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Research and Training Centre. The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute, University of Wisconsin—Stout, December, 1974.Google Scholar
Gold, M. Development of Workskills and Competencies. Paper presented at A.G.S.O.M.D. Conference, Launceston. Tape Recording No. 2 University of Tasmania, 1980.Google Scholar
Jewish Employment and Vocational Service. Survey of Employer Experience and Opinions Concerning Mentally Retarded Persons as Employees. Industrial Training Resources Project, Jewish Employment and Vocational Service, St. Louis. MO, February, 1968, in ERIC ED 026506.Google Scholar
Mahoney, D.J. The Success of the Mentally Retarded in Employment. Australian Journal of Mental Retardation. 1976(a), 4, 19–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mahoney, D. J. Factors Affecting the Success of the Mentally Retarded in Employment. Australian Journal of Mental Retardation. 1976(b), 4 38–51.Google Scholar
Ward, J., Parmenter, T. R., Riches, V. and Hauritz, M. A Survey of Employer Receptivity towards Hiring the Mildly Intellectually Handicapped. The Granville Work Preparation Centre Research and Development Project. Monograph 1, Macquarie University, 1980.Google Scholar