Abstract
A survey of vocational rehabilitation professionals was conducted to make an overview and description of the employment services and quality of work for individuals with mental retardation compared with qualifications of the rehabilitation professionals. The intention was to make status prior to the reformation of the residential institutions and special services provided for the mentally retarded in Norway. Respondents included 74 sheltered workshop staff, 160-day activity center staff, 62 vocational special education teachers and 83 mentors in competetive work settings (N = 379). Results suggest that individuals with mental retardation have limited opportunities for inclusion and career in competetive work and the vocational rehabilitation professionals do not have the qualifications nessessary to make a good job match and transition work. Results are discussed in terms of service delivery models, development of training programs for vocational rehabilitation professionals, career planning for the mentally retarded and implications for future research.
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