Employment and choice-making for adults with intellectual disability, autism, and down syndrome. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bush, Kelsey L.; Tassé, Marc J.
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 65(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Employment -- Choice-making -- Intellectual disability -- Autism spectrum disorder -- Down syndrome; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.04.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Adults with disabilities are employed at a significantly lower rate than adults without disabilities. Of adults with disabilities in the workforce, more individuals work in a facility setting rather than a community setting, despite efforts to improve community inclusion. Choice-making has been proposed as a predictive factor for employment for individuals with disabilities. Aims: The purpose of this research was to examine the current state of employment for three groups of adults with intellectual disability (ID): individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), individuals with Down syndrome (DS), and individuals with idiopathic ID. Choice-making and its relation to improved employment outcomes was explored. Methods: This study used National Core Indicator's Adult Consumer Survey datasets from years 2011–2012 and 2012–2013. Factor analyses revealed latent variables from six choice-making questions in the Adult Consumer Survey. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify factors related to employment status. Results: Adults with DS had the highest rates of paid community jobs, but adults with ID had the highest rates of choice-making. ID severity level and short-term choice-making had the greatest effects on employment status in all three groups. Conclusions: Employment rates remain low despite national efforts to find jobs for people with disabilities. Choice-making is a unique factor that was found to be associated with employment status and provides a target for interventions to increase employability.