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The practice of work integration: Nonprofits, for-profits and Persons with Intellectual-Developmental Disabilities

Hagai Katz, Ph.D. & Uzi Sasson, Ph.D., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 2014

This research is supported by a grant from the Shalem Foundation

This research examined the occupational integration of people with developmental intellectual disabilities in business organizations and non-profit organizations. The study included interviews and questionnaires with managers, employees without disabilities and employees with developmental intellectual disabilities. The researchers found a clear work distribution between social and business organizations in terms of the roles they play in the process of work integration. Nonetheless, the patterns of employment of disabled employees in the different types of organizations are similar, and remain rare and at a low level of integration. It is suggested that this could be improved by explaining the business benefits of integration, exposing managers to examples of successful integration and allowing them to experience integration. The study also found a pattern of mutual dependability between employers and associations that promote occupational integration, which requires ongoing accompaniment of employees with disabilities that are integrated in work places.

Video describing the study July 2014, Filmed in "Toy Village", Petach-Tikva
Editor : Shay Shlomi