Family Perspectives on Integrated Employment for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carly B. Gilson ◽  
Erik W. Carter ◽  
Jennifer L. Bumble ◽  
Elise D. McMillan
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Personal Satisfaction ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Integrated Employment ◽  
Family Perspectives

Families are essential partners in efforts to elevate the employment outcomes of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We examined the employment-related expectations, preferences, and concerns of 673 parents and other family members of adults with IDD. Participants prioritized paid integrated employment over sheltered options, and such perspectives were strongly associated with the recent employment status of their family member with IDD. In addition, they valued qualitative dimensions of a potential workplace (e.g., personal satisfaction, social interaction opportunities) more highly than prevailing employment metrics (e.g., rate of pay, hours per week, benefits). Multiple factors informed the views of parents and other family members regarding integrated employment and the extent to which their family member with IDD had been employed previously in the community. We offer recommendations for research, practice, and systems change efforts aimed at raising expectations for and access to integrated employment for adults with IDD.

Supporting Families Through the Charting the LifeCourse Framework

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
George S. Gotto ◽  
Michelle C. Reynolds ◽  
Susan B. Palmer ◽  
Danielle F. Chiang
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
The Family ◽  
Services And Supports ◽  
Parents And Caregivers ◽  
At Home

Abstract Supporting families who have family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as they move through life is a critical need (Reynolds, Palmer, & Gotto, 2018). The phrase, supporting families, juxtaposes the typical family support paradigm in response to the ongoing shrinkage of federal and state dollars and the recognition that parents and caregivers need services and supports to support their family member with IDD at home (Amado, Stancliffe, McCarron, & McCallion, 2013). Within the family support movement, families are defined in the broadest terms, including those living in the same household, people who are affiliated by birth or choice, and others in the role of helping individuals with IDD succeed in life (Reynolds et al., 2015; Turnbull, Turnbull, Erwin, Soodak, & Shogren, 2015).

Empowerment and Resilience in Families of Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 374-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jillian A. Caldwell ◽  
Jennifer L. Jones ◽  
Kami L. Gallus ◽  
Carolyn S. Henry
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Family Resilience ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
The Family ◽  
Study Support

Abstract Using the family resilience model, we examined the association between empowerment, family member age, length of institutionalization, and resilience among family members of relatives with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) following deinstitutionalization. Participants included 56 family members whose relatives with IDD recently transitioned to community living. Results strongly indicate empowerment plays a key role in positive family adaptation. Thus, following a relative's move from an institution to the community, empowerment is a promising form of protection that holds potential to increase family resilience. The results of the current study support the family resilience model as a foundation for future research regarding how families navigate significant transitions throughout the lifespan. Implications for practice and policy are provided.

scholarly journals The resiliency of employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown: A retrospective review of employment files

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Carol Schall ◽  
Valerie Brooke ◽  
Rachael Rounds ◽  
April Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Employment Status ◽  
Food Service ◽  
People Of Color ◽  
Hourly Wage ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Hours Worked ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disability ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Integrated Employment ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: While the health and economic impact of COVID-19 is becoming better known among the general population, little is known about the impact of the pandemic and recession on employees with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recession on individuals with IDD. METHODS: The present paper described the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and recession on the employment status, hours worked, and hourly wage of 156 individuals with IDD who work in competitive integrated employment for February to July 2020. These findings are compared with a similar group receiving services from the same agency in February to July 2019. RESULTS: Findings indicate that these employees were not able to work from home and experienced furlough or lay off instead. Further, the number of hours worked monthly was also significantly affected. Wages were not affected by the pandemic and recession. Employees in some industries, notably health care and distribution and supplies, were less affected than employees in other industries like food service, retail, and entertainment. Finally, and surprisingly, black, indigenous, and other people of color worked more hours monthly than their white peers in both 2019 and 2020. CONCLUSION: Implications of these findings are discussed.

Family Role in the Development of Self-Determination for Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-334
Author(s):  
Evan E. Dean ◽  
Anne V. Kirby ◽  
Mayumi Hagiwara ◽  
Karrie A. Shogren ◽  
Deniz Tekin Ersan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Knowledge Gap ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Family Role ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Family Perspectives ◽  
Home Context

Abstract The development of self-determination is promoted by supportive contexts during adolescence; families are a key part of this context. In adolescent populations, research suggests families can support self-determination in a number of ways, yet less is known about how self-determination is promoted within families of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a scoping review to examine the existing evidence pertaining to the role families of youth with IDD play in supporting the development of self-determination. A review of 24 publications revealed that existing research has focused on understanding family perspectives on self-determination, but there is a lack of studies investigating how families provide supports for self-determination in the home context for youth with IDD. Additionally, little intervention work has focused on supporting families to promote self-determination. Based on the findings, implications for future research and practice are provided.

scholarly journals Toward Competitive Employment for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: What Progress Have We Made and Where Do We Need to Go

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Wehman ◽  
Joshua Taylor ◽  
Valerie Brooke ◽  
Lauren Avellone ◽  
Holly Whittenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Supported Employment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Competitive Employment ◽  
Integrated Employment ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Workforce Innovation ◽  
Research And Policy

Progress toward competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) over the last 40 years has been mixed. Despite evidence showing that supported employment interventions can enable adults with IDD to effectively get and keep jobs, national rates of integrated employment remain below a third of the working-age population. Progress is being made to improve these outcomes. Pathways have been identified that lead to CIE through supported employment, customized employment, internship experiences, and postsecondary education. The recent passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) has created fresh momentum and increased the onus on interagency collaboration. This article examines what is known about promoting CIE through these pathways and highlights recommendations for future research and policy change. Recommendations for the future provide direction toward positive change for CIE into the 21st century.

Employment: Renewed Investments

Inclusion ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Mank ◽  
Teresa A. Grossi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Supported Employment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Integrated Employment ◽  
Fair Pay

Abstract Supported employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities emerged in the 1980s, clearly showing the untapped potential of people to work productively in integrated jobs. Expanding across the United States and other countries, supported employment was shown to be an effective approach to employment across communities and cultures. While supported employment has expanded little in the last decade, there is a renewed investment nationwide and in some other countries. The renewed developments include improvements in supported employment methods, interest in funding based on outcomes rather than services, concern about the persistence of segregated workshops, the need for qualified supported employment personnel, investment in Employment First policies in states, the emergence of litigation promoting integrated employment over segregation, renewed investment in transition, investments in other countries, and the increasingly clear voice of self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities calling for community jobs and fair pay. While there is renewed interest in supported employment, threats remain to further improvement and expansion that must also be addressed.

Gaining Insight from Innovation: Promising Practices that Promote Integrated Employment by State IDD Agencies

Inclusion ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-208
Author(s):  
Jaimie Timmons ◽  
Jennifer Bose ◽  
Allison Hall
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
State Agency ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Promising Practices ◽  
Employment Agency ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Integrated Employment ◽  
State Employment

Abstract State employment agency policies and practices vary widely in their level of commitment to improving access to integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). State IDD agencies are charged to seek creative approaches to policy formation, organizational change, and service provision that directly influence the development of employment opportunities. The goal of this study was to understand the promising practices and strategies being used by state intellectual and developmental disabilities agencies in order to understand what factors make these strategies successful, the lessons learned from implementation, and how the themes derived from this analysis can help to further articulate integrated employment as the preferred outcome for individuals with IDD. Semistructured, one-on-one telephone interviews with key state IDD agency personnel revealed six themes that were common across 30 state agency practices. These were (a) identifying barriers, (b) forming a coalition, (c) developing a mission and strategic plan, (d) aligning the infrastructure with vision and policies, (e) building stakeholder capacity, and (f) measuring progress and monitoring implementation. Recommendations are offered to state agency administrators to broaden perceptions about methods for expanding integrated employment options and outcomes at the systems level.

Building an Evidence-Based, Holistic Approach to Advancing Integrated Employment

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Cohen Hall ◽  
John Butterworth ◽  
Jean Winsor ◽  
John Kramer ◽  
Kelly Nye-Lengerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Supported Employment ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Integrated Employment ◽  
Policy And Strategy ◽  
Employment Supports ◽  
Substantial Investment ◽  
Services And Supports

Since the introduction of supported employment in the Developmental Disabilities Act of 1984 and the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986, there has been continued development and refinement of best practices in employment services and supports. Progress includes creative outcomes for individuals with significant support needs including customized jobs and self-employment, community rehabilitation providers that have shifted emphasis to integrated employment, and states that have made a substantial investment in Employment First policy and strategy. Despite these achievements, the promise of integrated employment remains elusive for the majority of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The number of individuals supported in integrated employment by state agencies has remained stagnant for the past 15 years, participation in nonwork services has grown rapidly, and individual employment supports have not been implemented with fidelity. This article presents preliminary findings from activities completed by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Advancing Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and discusses a framework for organizing state and federal investments in research, practice, and systems change.

scholarly journals Stigma experienced by family members of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: multidimensional construct

BJPsych Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 332-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Mitter ◽  
Afia Ali ◽  
Katrina Scior
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundThere is a lack of good-quality instruments measuring stigma experienced by family members of stigmatised people.AimsTo develop a self-report measure of stigma among families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and examine associations between family stigma and other variables.MethodThe new Family Stigma Instrument (FAMSI) was tested with 407 family carers, 53% of whose offspring had an autism spectrum disorder in addition to intellectual disability. They also completed measures of subjective well-being, caregiver burden, self-esteem and social support.ResultsThe FAMSI yielded a five-factor structure and had good reliability. Perceived family stigma, caregiver burden and subjective well-being were the strongest predictors of family stigma.ConclusionsThis instrument can advance our understanding of the impact of stigma on family members. It can also help us understand sociodemographic, psychosocial and contextual variables of both the carer and cared for person that may influence family members' experiences.Declaration of interestNone.

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