Economic Evaluation of Supported-Employment Inspired Program for Pupils With Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

In this study, we investigate whether, or

Employment for persons with intellectual disability in the Nordic countries: A scoping review

“…A better coordination between the educational system and the labour market may also have a positive effect on the employment situation for persons with intellectual disability (Tholen et al, 2017).…”

“…Here, Tholen et al, (2017) highlight the provision of internships at regular workplaces during upper secondary school as an important transition support, as this may help educators to teach abilities and knowledge that will be useful at specific workplaces. Additionally, if students are given the possibility to proceed to employment at the same workplace as they did their internship, they will be less likely to register as unemployed or to become daily-activity clients after graduating from upper secondary school, thereby avoiding pathways that reduce the likelihood of gaining employment at regular workplaces (Tholen et al, 2017).…”

“…Employers highlight the need for advisory support (Kuznetsova & Yalcin, 2017), but at least three studies suggest that this support is not always adequate (Beyer et al, 2010;Knüppel et al, 2019;Saloviita & Pirttimaa, 2007). Supported employment programmes may be an effective intervention to address employers' experienced need for support to accommodate the workplace for employees with intellectual disability (Tholen et al, 2017). However, three of the included studies indicate that there is considerable variation in the content of supported employment programmes, and certain programmes may even bar persons with significant disabilities, which may disadvantage persons with intellectual disability (Beyer et al, 2010;Saloviita & Pirttimaa, 2007;Skedinger & Widerstedt, 2007).…”

The association between employment and the health of people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review

“…Further research to determine specific health benefits attributable to employment for people with intellectual disabilities is required, as well as research to elucidate the causal pathways that operate with reference to existing models on the relationship between (un)employment and health in the general population (e.g., Janlert & Hammarström, 2009, Paul & Moser, 2006. Whilst SE programs can be expensive, they can be cost-effective due to reducing cost for day activity services (Tholen, Hultkrantz, & Persson, 2017), cost-efficient regardless of severity and number of disabilities (Cimera, 1998) and lead to work in integrated settings for people traditionally thought of as unemployable due to the severity of their intellectual disabilities (Walsh, Lynch, & deLacey, 1994). Firstly, it would support the argument that health outcomes should become a driver for pursuing employment for people with intellectual disabilities as well as financial cost-benefit issues and an equality agenda.…”

“…Internationally, policy should continue to be directed towards improving what are currently extremely low employment rates for people with intellectual disabilities, for example, via SE programs. Whilst SE programs can be expensive, they can be cost-effective due to reducing cost for day activity services (Tholen, Hultkrantz, & Persson, 2017), cost-efficient regardless of severity and number of disabilities (Cimera, 1998) and lead to work in integrated settings for people traditionally thought of as unemployable due to the severity of their intellectual disabilities (Walsh, Lynch, & deLacey, 1994).…”