Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2022-5
“More than a Job,it’s a Purpose”: A Psychology of Working Perspective of the Working Experiences for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) aspire to work, though they are often excluded from the workforce. However, little is known about the perspectives and work experiences of adults with IDD viewed through a vocational psychology lens. Our study focused on the Psychology of Working theoretical (PWT) framework, which is anchored in inclusivity, lived experiences, and equity. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 adults with IDD across the United States to understand how they make meaning of work and the extent to which their lived experiences aligned with the PWT taxonomy. We employed consensual qualitative research to analyze participants’ views within the three functions of the PWT taxonomy (i.e., power and survival, social connection, and self-determination). Our findings affirm the taxonomy as an appropriate framework to apply to the working experiences of adults with IDD. We discuss implications of this study for research and practice in vocational psychology.
BlickR. N.LitzK. S.ThornhillM. G.GorecznyA. J. (2016). Do inclusive work environments matter? Effects of community-integrated employment on quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 53–54, 358–366. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.02.015
3.
BlusteinD. L. (2006). The psychology of working: A new perspective for career development, counseling, and public policy. Routledge.
4.
BlusteinD. L. (2019). The importance of work in an age of uncertainty: The eroding work experience in America.Oxford University Press.
5.
CarterE. W.BiggsE. E.BoehmT. L. (2016). Being present versus having a presence: Dimensions of belonging for young people with disabilities and their families. Christian Education Journal, 13(1), 127–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/073989131601300109
6.
CinamonR. G.GifshL. (2004). Conceptions of work among adolescents and young adults with mental retardation. Career Development Quarterly, 52(3), 212–224. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2004.tb00643.x
7.
DeciE. L.RyanR. M. (2008). Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology, 49(3), 182–185. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012801
8.
Dedoose Version 8.3.17 (2020). SocioCultural research consultants, LLCwww.dedoose.com.
9.
DuffyR. D.BlusteinD. L.DiemerM. A.AutinK. L. (2016). The psychology of working theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(2), 127–148. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000140
10.
EricksonW.LeeC.von SchraderS. (2012). 2011 disability status report: United States. Cornell University Employment and Disability Institute.
11.
FabianE. (2013). Disability and work. In BlusteinD. L. (Ed.), Oxford handbook of the psychology of working (pp. 185–200). Oxford University Press.
HallA. C.KramerJ. (2009). Social capital through workplace connections: opportunities for workers with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 8(3–4), 146–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/15367100903200452
14.
HillC. E. (2012). Consensual qualitative research: A practical resource for investigating social science phenomena.American Psychological Association.
15.
HillC. E.KnoxS. (2021). Essentials of consensual qualitative research. American Psychological Association.
16.
HillC. E.KnoxS.ThompsonB. J.WilliamsE. N.HessS. A.LadanyN. (2005). Consensual qualitative research: an update. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(2), 196–205. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.196
17.
JahodaA.BanksP.DagnanD.KempJ.KerrW.WilliamsV. (2009). Starting a new job: The social and emotional experience of people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(5), 421–425. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2009.00497.x
18.
JahodaA.KempJ.RiddellS.BanksP. (2008). Feelings about work: A review of the socio-emotional impact of supported employment on people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2007.00365.x
19.
KlaymanD.CoughlinJ. (2017). Summative evaluation of the employment first state leadership mentoring project 2015 program year. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 47(1), 25–45. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-170881
LevittH. M.MotulskyS. L.WertzF. J.MorrowS. L.PonterottoJ. G. (2017). Recommendations for designing and reviewing qualitative research in psychology: Promoting methodological integrity. Qualitative Psychology, 4(1), 2–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/qup0000082.
22.
LipscombS.HaimsonJ.LiuA.Y.BurghardtJ.JohnsonD. R.ThurlowM. L. (2017). Preparing for life after high school: The characteristics and experiences of youth in special education. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Volume 2: Comparisons across disability groups: Full report (NCEE 2017-4018). U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance.
23.
LiuA. Y.LacoeJ.LipscombS.HaimsonJ.JohnsonD. R.ThurlowM. L. (2018). Preparing for life after high school: The characteristics and experiences of youth in special education. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Volume 3: Comparisons over time (Full report) (NCEE 2018-4007). U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance.
24.
LysaghtR.Ouellette-KuntzH.MorrisonC. (2009). The meaning and value of productivity to adults with intellectual disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 47(6), 413–424. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-47.6.413
25.
McWhirterE. H.McWha-HermannI. (2021). Social justice and career development: Progress, problems, and possibilities. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 126, 1–17.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103492
26.
MoradiB.GrzankaP. R. (2017). Using intersectionality responsibly: Toward critical epistemology, structural analysis, and social justice activism. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 64(5), 500–513. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000203
SaldañaJ. (2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3rd ed., pp. 73–95). SAGE Publications.
29.
ShogrenK. A.PlotnerA. J. (2012). Transition planning for students with intellectual disability, autism, or other disabilities: Data from the National longitudinal Transition study-2. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 50(1), 16–30. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-50.1.16
30.
SinghS. M.GilsonC. B. (2020). Toward an inclusive definition of college student development. Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education, 2(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.13021/jipe.2020.2719
31.
SipersteinG. N.ParkerR. C.DrascherM. (2013). National snapshot of adults with intellectual disabilities in the labor force. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39(3), 157–165. https://doi.org/10.3222/JVR-130658.
32.
Trint Version 2020.47.69515. (2020). Trint ltd. [data Transcription Software].
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
