Supported and Sheltered Employment: Quality of Life Issues among Workers with Disabilities

Abstract

A quality of life survey was developed and administered to ten individuals with disabilities who were engaged in supported community employment, ten individuals with disabilities who were enrolled in a sheltered workshop program, and nine individuals without disabilities in order to examine differences in perceived quality of life as a result of community-based employment. The latter two groups were matched to the supported employment group on age and gender. Results indicated that the number of leisure activities, use of leisure time, self-esteem, involvement in activities, mobility, job skill perceptions, and perceptions regarding changes in income were positively related to supported community employment.

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