The value of competitive employment: In-depth accounts of people with intellectual disabilities.
Moniek A C Voermans, Elsbeth F Taminiau, Sanne A H Giesbers and 1 others
PMID 32945056WHAT IT FOUND
Six people with intellectual disabilities described competitive work as vital for feeling normal and useful.
However, they faced stigma that made them feel dependent or insecure. Some hid their disability to fit in, while others struggled with low pay compared to colleagues.
Key findings
01Participants viewed competitive employment as a way to feel like an ordinary member of society, though they often felt stigmatized or dependent on others in the workplace.
02Experiences of stigma led to varied responses: some participants tried to prove their abilities to counter negative views, while others felt insecure and lost motivation.
03Some participants concealed their disability or distanced themselves from other people with intellectual disabilities to avoid being identified with that group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only six participants, all of whom had mild intellectual disabilities or borderline functioning and good verbal communication skills. Results may not apply to individuals with more severe disabilities or those with limited communication abilities. The long gap between the initial interview and the member check (average seven weeks) may have affected the accuracy of participants' reflections. There is a risk of social desirability bias, where participants may have agreed with researchers' themes to please them.
Declared interests
All authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not generalize these findings to all people with intellectual disabilities. The participants all had mild disabilities and good verbal skills, and they were already employed in competitive settings, so their experiences may differ significantly from those with more severe disabilities or those in sheltered employment.