Competitive employment (i.e., employment in community settings among people without disabilities for minimum wage or higher) improves quality of life for people with disabilities who have individualized support needs (ISN). However, attaining competitive employment can be challenging for people with ISN. This study used a mixed methods design to evaluate the perspectives of 68 families who attended the Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT). Findings indicated that families who attended FEAT (a) accessed competitive employment resources following FEAT and (b) reported competitive employment outcomes for their family members with ISN following FEAT. We discuss implications of these findings and recommendations for future research.
BoeltzigH.TimmonsJ. C.ButterworthJ. (2008). Entering work: Employment outcomes of people with developmental disabilities. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 31, 217–223.
3.
BuntinxW.CobigoV.McLaughlinC.MorinD.TasséM. J.ThompsonJ. R. (2008). Psychometric properties of the Supports Intensity Scale. Washington, DC: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
4.
CarterE. W.AustinD.TrainorA. A. (2011). Predictors of postschool employment outcomes for young adults with severe disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 23, 50–63.
5.
CarterE. W.DutchmanN.YeS.TrainorA. A.SwedeenB.OwensL. (2010). Summer employment and community experiences of transition-age youth with severe disabilities. Exceptional Children, 76, 194–212.
6.
CimeraR. E. (2008). The cost-trends of supported employment versus sheltered employment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 28, 15–20.
7.
CreswellJ. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
8.
DeutschlanderS. (2010). An analysis of training effects on school personnel’s knowledge, attitudes, comfort, and confidence levels toward educating students about HIV/AIDS. International Journal of Mental Health Addiction, 8, 444–452.
9.
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-402, 42.
10.
DillmanD. A.SmythJ. D.ChristianL. M. (2009). Internet, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
11.
EremencoS. L.CellaD.ArnoldB. J. (2005). A comprehensive method for the translation of cross-cultural validation of health status questionnaires. Evaluation and the Health Professions, 28, 212–232.
12.
FrancisG. L. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of the Family Employment Awareness Training program: Expectations, knowledge, barriers, and employment outcomes for people with disabilities who have individualized support needs (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest. (3557525)
13.
FrancisG. L.GrossJ. M. S.TurnbullA.TurnbullR. (2013). The Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT) Program in Kansas: A mixed-method follow-up. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39, 167-181.
14.
FrancisG. L.GrossJ. M. S.TurnbullH. R.Parent-JohnsonW. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of the Family Employment Awareness Training in Kansas: A pilot study. Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities, 38, 1–14.
15.
GlaserB. G.StraussA. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago, IL: Aldine.
16.
HallE. (2007). The effects of disability awareness trainings with career and technical educators teaching in high need rural schools. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 26, 16–24.
17.
HallJ. P.FoxM. H. (2004). What providers and Medicaid policymakers need to know about barriers to employment for people with disabilities. Journal of Health and Social Policy, 19, 37–50.
18.
HasnainR.BalcazarF. (2009). Predicting community- versus facility-based employment for transition-aged young adults with disabilities: The role of race, ethnicity, and support systems. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 31, 175–188.
19.
HendricksD. R.WehmanP. (2009). Transition from school to adulthood for youth with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24, 77–88.
HessingR. E.ArcandL. L.FrostM. H. (2004). The effects of an educational intervention on oncology nurses’ attitude, perceived knowledge, and self-reported application of complementary therapies. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31, 71–78.
22.
IsonN.McIntyreS.RotheryS.Smithers-SheedyH.GoldsmithS.ParsonageS.FoyL. (2010). “Just like you”: A disability awareness programme for children that enhanced knowledge, attitudes and acceptance: Pilot study findings. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 13, 360–368.
23.
JoyceB. R.ShowersB. (2002). Student achievement through staff development. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
24.
KearneyA. R.De YoungR. (1995). A knowledge-based intervention for promoting carpooling. Environment and Behavior, 27, 650–678.
25.
KellyA. E.LeshR. A.BaekJ. Y. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of design research methods in education: Innovations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning and teaching. New York, NY: Routledge.
26.
MankD. (2007). Employment. In OdomS. L.HornerR. H.SnellM. E.BlacherJ. (Eds.), Handbook of developmental disabilities (pp. 390–409). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
27.
MaxwellJ. A. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
28.
MerriamS. B. (2002). Qualitative research in practice: Examples for discussion and analyses. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
29.
MerriamS. B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
30.
MerriamS. B.CaffarellaR. S.BaumgartnerL. M. (2007). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
31.
MiglioreA.ButterworthJ.NordD.GelbA. (2011). Improving job development through training and mentorship (Research to Practice Brief, Issue No. 51). Boston: Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston.
32.
MiglioreA.MankD.GrossiT.RoganP. (2007). Integrated employment or sheltered workshops: Preferences of adults with intellectual disabilities, their families, and staff. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 26, 5–19.
33.
National Council on Disability. (2010). Workforce infrastructure in support of people with disabilities: Matching human resources to service needs. Retrieved from http://www.ncd.gov/publications/2010/Jan202010
SchmidtM. A.SmithD. L. (2007). Individuals with disabilities perceptions on preparedness for the workforce and factors that limit employment. Work, 28, 13–21.
37.
SchurL.KruseD.BlanckP. (2005). Corporate culture and the employment of persons with disabilities. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 23, 3–20.
38.
ShankG. D. (2006). Qualitative research: A personal skills approach (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
39.
ShrinerM.SchleeB.HamilM.LiblerR. (2009). Creating teachers’ perceptual, behavioral, and attitudinal change using professional development workshops. Teacher Development, 12, 125–134.
40.
SpragueS.PozdniakovaP.KaempfferE.SacconeM.SchemitschE. H.BhandariM. (2012). Principles and practice of clinical research course for surgeons: An evaluation of knowledge transfer and perceptions. Canadian Journal of Surgery, 55, 46–52.
41.
TimmonsJ. C.HallA. C.BoseJ.WolfeA.WinsorJ. (2011). Choosing employment: Factors that impact employment decisions for individuals with intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49, 285–299.
VerdugoM. A.Martin-IngelmoR.JordándeUrríesF. B.VicentC.SánchezM. S. (2009). Impact on quality of life and self-determination of a national program for increasing supported employment in Europe. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 31, 55–64.
