Strategies and Barriers in Facilitating Natural Supports for Employment of Adults with Severe Disabilities

Abstract

The concept offacilitating natural supports as a resource for obtaining and maintaining employment has received considerable attention, and a number of strategies for facilitating natural supports from an individual's network of family and friends and an employee's co-workers and employers on the job have been proposed. Interviews were conducted with key personnel in 17 schools and 16 adult service organizations in Massachusetts to obtain descriptive information regarding which practices are currently used and what barriers exist to the implementation ofsuch practices. Each organization was nominated as representing current best practices. Results indicate wide use of some practices as well as much confusion about the concept of natural supports and the role of human service providers in facilitating involvement.

Social Participation of Employed and Unemployed Israelis With Disabilities

“…The literature often describes people with disabilities as dependent solely on their own natural supports of friends and family members (Hagner, Butterworth, & Keith, 1995). Furthermore, due to lack of social networks, they hardly report social contact with coworkers.…”

Os contributos do emprego apoiado para a integração das pessoas com doença mental

“…No entanto, apesar dos benefícios identificados para o emprego apoiado que ajudam a amortecer estes problemas, ainda existem muitos desafios relacionados com a integração, na medida em que na maioria dos programas, os técnicos ainda fornecem apoio directo ao trabalhador na empresa (Hagner, Butterworth, & Keith, 1995) e a investigação indica que esse suporte não é facilitador da integração (Jenaro et al, 2002) e pode mesmo contribuir para o isolamento do trabalhador (Hughes, Rush, Wilson, & Heal 1995;Nisbet & Hagner, 1988;Rogan, Hagner, & Murphy, 1993;Sylvestre & Gottlieb, 1992;Yan, Mank, Sandow, Rhodes, & Olson, 1993). Segundo Mank, Cioffi, e Yovanoff (1999, quanto mais comum e natural for o processo de obtenção do emprego o horário de trabalho e outras condições laborais, melhor será o ajustamento profissional e integração na empresa.…”

The Effect of Mentoring versus Job Coach Instruction on Integration in Supported Employment Settings

“…This support theoretically lasts for the length of employment at the site and uses systematic instructional training strategies to teach job skills (Wehman & Melia, 1985). Although this model has been "traditional" since its inception and appears to be an effective means of training specific job skills, there is current questioning whether or not this is the best way to facilitate integration for workers with severe disabilities (Butterworth, Hagner, Kiernan, & Schalock, 1996;Hagner, Butterworth, & Keith, 1995;Storey & Certo, 1996).…”