Employment practices as experienced by persons with intellectual disability, employers, and employment specialists across Canada

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rates of un- and under-employment are high among persons with intellectual disabilities in Canada. More information is needed to better understand how current employment practices are experienced by persons with intellectual disabilities and those who hire and support them. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory and descriptive study sought to learn about employment practices as experienced by self-advocates with intellectual disabilities, employers, and employment specialists; to identify key barriers and facilitators to equitable inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities in attaining and maintaining paid and competitive employment. METHODS: An online survey invited participants from all three groups to share their experiences and descriptive analysis was conducted to offer a summary of patterns across participant experiences. RESULTS: 149 participants (77 employment specialists, 59 self-advocates, and 13 employers) from across Canada participated in the survey and shared information about their experiences across recruitment, hiring, integration, and performance management of persons with intellectual disabilities. CONCLUSION: This study offers information about employment practices in Canada that directly impact the experiences of potential or current employees with intellectual disabilities. The findings may be used to inform the development of employment standards, best practices, and/or future research to improve disability-inclusive employment.