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Enabling self-determination for older workers with intellectual disabilities in supported employment in Australia
- Authors:
- MCDERMOTT Shannon, EDWARDS Robyn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25(5), September 2012, pp.423-432.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Promoting self-determination for people with disability is recognised to be an essential element of disability service provision. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the extent to which older people with intellectual disability working in supported employment can make self-determined choices about retirement. The study aimed to explore the views of older people with disability and service providers to understand the elements that impact on people’s decision to retire. A total of 76 people participated in semi-structured interviews, including 33 older people with intellectual disability working in supported employment, 10 people who had retired and 30 service providers. The findings showed that service providers strongly supported the right of people to retire. However, people with disability almost never reported the ability to make self-determined choices about retirement. Barriers to self-determination included an association between retirement, poor health and meaningless activities, which was perpetuated through structural service gaps. To address this requires more flexible services, better information about retirement, exposure to real experiences and assistance to express preferences and participate in problem solving throughout the lifespan.