The Importance of Economic Participation for Quality of Life

Working without discrimination is a right of citizenship and a desired outcome among people with intellectual and other disabilities. Greater workforce participation can benefit both society and individual quality of life for economic and non-economic reasons. However, unemployment and under-employment are significant problems affecting people with intellectual disabilities to a greater degree than other groups with disabilities and the general population. This chapter identifies key barriers and new opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to get and retain jobs of their choice in open or supported employment. Although various vocational training and disability employment support programmes exist that aim to improve outcomes, these programmes vary widely in type, quality, and outcomes achieved. Evidence from national and international experience is presented to describe the most effective employment models and good practices from across different programme types. In particular, those programmes that support working-age youth and adults with intellectual disabilities to gain and retain employment are explored.