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Supports and Impediments on the Way to Occupation, Employment and Workplace Integration for People With Cognitive Disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2017

Michaela Studer ,
Annette Lichtenauer ,
Angela Wyder  and
Anne Parpan-Blaser
Michaela Studer
Affiliation:
University of Applied Sciences of Special Needs Education, Switzerland
Annette Lichtenauer
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
Angela Wyder
Affiliation:
sensiQoL AG, Switzerland
Anne Parpan-Blaser*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
*
Address for correspondence: Prof Dr Anne Parpan-Blaser, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Riggenbachstrasse 16, CH-4600 Olten, Switzerland. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Purpose: This article focuses on occupation and employment after basic vocational training for people with cognitive disabilities. The aim is to reveal supporting and hindering factors of different forms of workplace integration as perceived by those with disabilities. Method: Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used, consisting of an easy-to-read questionnaire completed by 412 graduates of practical vocational training, and in-depth interviews with 27 graduates. Results: The key findings show that workplace integration of people with disabilities takes place through a combination of various factors and materialises in different ways in terms of workplace, employment status, activity and further perspectives. Our findings suggest that supporting and accompanying people with disabilities in their work activities should always take into account both their desire for self-determination and their dependence on structural conditions.

Keywords

vocational trainingwork biographypeople with disabilitiesInternational Classification of FunctioningDisability and Health (ICF)participationworkplace integration
Type
Articles
Information
International Journal of Disability Management , Volume 12 , 2017 , e5
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

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