ABSTRACT

For individuals with any form of disability the chances of finding or keeping employment in the open work market are greatly reduced. It is estimated, for example, that even individuals with mild intellectual disabilities have unemployment rates as high as 60-70 per cent. Although specialist vocational training programmes do exist, most tend to be pitched at a very low level and many potential trainees fail to gain access to courses that adequately meet their needs (Harrison 1996). Moreover, even for those who manage to find work, job status and stability are typically low (Zetlin and Murtaugh 1990), and work experience is frequently very negative (Szivos 1990).