Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Cleaning up
- Author:
- PARTON Dan
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 15(1), January 2015, pp.26-27.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The Chartity Hft runs two environmentally friendly car cleaning services in Gloucester and Stroud, which help young people with learning disabilities develop vital job skills in paid employment. The initiative offers work experience for up to 12 weeks for one day a week. Although the work experience is unpaid, a job coach works alongside the young person throughout this time. Individuals can then apply for vacancies as they arise. The long term goal is to offer NVQs in customer service skills and other qualifications to their employees. (Original abstract)
A summary of government initiatives relating to employment for people with learning disabilities in England
- Author:
- BLAMIRES Kate
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 20(3), 2015, pp.151-165.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper provides a synthesis of current and previous government policies and strategies, in relation to people with learning disabilities and employment, to facilitate a better understanding of the current situation and future challenges. Design/methodology/approach: A search was completed to identify government policies relating to the employment of people with learning disabilities. Key policies were identified and their impact was discussed in the paper. Findings: It appears there is a necessity to identify how successful pilot projects can be replicated on a national scale, with clear targets and measures and initial financial support to set up these services. Alongside this there is a need for interventions targeting not just employers, but the general population, educating people about the importance of including and valuing people with learning disabilities in the workforce. Originality/value: It is important that policy is analysed and the impact of it is assessed to determine whether more action is necessary. This paper adds updates to some of the issues discussed in Melling et al.’s (2011) paper about “Supported employment for people with learning disabilities”. (Edited publisher abstract)
Longitudinal investigation of vocational engagement
- Authors:
- SPREAT Scott, CONROY James William
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 12(4), 2015, pp.266-271.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The vocational engagement of 216 individuals with an intellectual disability was followed over a 15-year period. Engagement was operationally defined as activity in five simple categories: competitive, supported, or sheltered employment, plus prevocational and nonvocational daytime activities. Authors sought a long-term view of trends in vocational and nonvocational engagement among all people who were receiving residential and day supports in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and for whom data collection visits had been conducted during the entire 15-year period. This was intended to assess what progress toward eventual employment has been made over the past two decades, and this information was aimed toward policy initiatives related to Employment First models. Authors selected all people for whom on-site quality-of-life data were collected continuously from 1994 to 2009. Their primary types of daytime activities were reported, and the number of hours in each type were submitted to analysis. The overall amount of vocational, prevocational, and nonvocational activities changed sharply during the 15-year period. Vocational and prevocational activity declined, while nonvocational engagement more than doubled, both in numbers of people and hours. During the same time period, the number of employed individuals consistently declined, as did the total number of hours worked. The decline was primarily evident in segregated forms of vocational activity, such as sheltered workshops and prevocational activities. There was no collateral increase in the use of more integrated forms of employment. Age did not appear to be a factor in this decline. The current emphasis on Employment First models would seem to be justified in view of this sample's longitudinal engagement outcomes. However, this analysis was done in only one state, and results must be compared and contrasted to those in other states. (Publisher abstract)
Is policy having an impact? Commentary on “A summary of government initiatives relating to employment for people with learning disabilities in England”
- Author:
- MELLING Kathy
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 20(3), 2015, pp.166-169.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper provides a commentary on “A summary of government initiatives relating to employment for people with learning disabilities in England” by Kate Blamires. Design/methodology/approach: In her paper, Blamires outlines the development of policy in employment for people with learning disabilities. This commentary explores whether this policy development is having any impact. Findings: The statistics indicate that development of policy does not appear to be making a difference. It is concluded that this is about how it is being implemented and the time it takes for policy to have an impact. What is needed to fully implement these changes is a huge cultural shift, changing people’s mindset about what people with learning disabilities can achieve. (Edited publisher abstract)
Project SEARCH: a new model of supported employment?
- Author:
- KAEHNE Axel
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 15(1), January 2015, pp.22-24.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Reports on the evaluation of Project SEARCH UK programme, an intern-based supported employment programme originally devised in the USA. The evaluation examined employment outcome data from 17 participating sites in the South West of England. In the programme a business, often a hospital, takes the lead in developing the internships. It also commits to take on 60 per cent of its interns after graduation for full time employment. The programme is primarily open to young people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum conditions who are in their last year of school or college. Outcomes found that Project SEARCH graduates had a significantly higher rate of finding employment than in other supported employment programmes. It was also successful in offering opportunities to people with a range of learning disabilities. Interns also found work in a variety of roles. The evaluation demonstrates that Project Search is a valuable addition to supported employment programmes in the UK. (Edited publisher abstract)