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HELSEVEL-Gode og effektive helse-, omsorgs- og velferdstjenester

Rethinking work inclusion for people with intellectual disability

Alternative title: Nye måter å tenke arbeidsinkludering for personer med utviklingshemming.

Awarded: NOK 12.0 mill.

People with intellectual disability (IDD) are mainly excluded from ordinary work, despite political goals and initiatives, and the CRPD. Within public welfare services, there is a need for strengthening the ability to meet the challenges related to work inclusion for people with intellectual disability. The primary objective in the project is to develop knowledge to strengthen competencies in work inclusion for people with intellectual disability for the Social Education, sheltered workshops, NAV and the research field. The secondary objectives are: 1) To examine the meaning of work for people with intellectual disability. 2) To study innovation in work inclusion within sheltered workshops. 3) To study how social entrepreneurship in social enterprises can increase work inclusion for people with intellectual disability. 4) To study employers´ knowledge and attitudes to work inclusion for people with intellectual disability, and how this affects theire motivation and ability to be innovative. Based on the project´s aim, four work packages have been designed, containing operationalized research questions. We will use a mixture of methods. WP1 focuses on the meaning work and work inclusion for people with IDD. WP2 focuses on how service providers at sheltered workshops can succeed in work inclusion by being innovative, in collaboration with NAV and employers. WP3 focuses on how social entrepreneurship in social enterprises can increase work inclusion for people with IDD. WP4 focuses on employers´ attitudes and knowledge when it comes to work inclusion for people with IDD, and how this affects their ability to be innovative. UiT will be the project owner. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Norwegian and Icelandic partners from four universities/colleges. The project is now ended. We have published a Scientific book in 2021. Results from all work packages are presented in the book. We have also written articles, arranged a digital conference and written a book about co-researchers with intellectual disability and work inclusion. Important results from the study: * Work, and the opportunities to choose, is important for people with intellectual disabilies, as for others. * While some people with i.d. need predictability, this is not neccessary for others. * Social innovation can increase the opportunity for people with i.d. to work at ordinary work places. * Most employees are skeptical when it comes to employ people with i.d., but some are not.

Prosjektets resultater, formidlet gjennom vitenskapelige artikler, fagbok og presentasjoner på konferanser osv., har forhåpentligvis bidratt til økt forståelse av viktigheten av og kunnskap om arbeidsinkludering av personer med utviklingshemming også i det ordinære arbeidsliv. Prosjektet har bidratt med økt kunnskap om hvordan man ved å samarbeide kan lykkes med økt arbeidsinkludering for denne gruppen. Sosial innovasjon har vært et sentralt teoretisk perspektiv i prosjektet.

The project will provide research-based knowledge to strengthen competencies in work inclusion for people with intellectual disability (IDD) for the Social Education, sheltered workshops, NAV and the research field. Within public welfare services, there is a need for strengthening the ability to meet the challenges related to work inclusion for people with intellectual disability. We will approach the research area in an innovative way by using a mixture of methods and empasizing user involvement. Based on the project´s aim, four work packages have been designed, containing operationalized research questions, theoretical frames and methods. WP1 focuses on the meaning work and work inclusion for people with IDD. WP2 focuses on how service providers at sheltered workshops can succeed in work inclusion by being innovative, in collaboration with NAV and employers. WP3 focuses on how social entrepreneurship in social enterprises can increase work inclusion for people with IDD. WP4 focuses on employers´ attitudes and knowledge when it comes to work inclusion for people with IDD, and how this affects theire ability to be innovative. Dissemination of knowledge is stressed in the project and will enable the project results to yield benefits for the Social Education, service providers, end-users and the research field. The impact of the project is: 1) An improved Social Education when it comes to work inclusion for people with IDD. 2) Renewed practice and service providers with knowledge, skills and competence when it comes to work inclusion for people with IDD, and ability to transform theoretical knowledge and practical skills into innovative practices. 3) Increased theoretical understanding of how to succeed with work inclusion. 4) Increased research competencies among academic staff in Social Education. UiT will be the project owner. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Norwegian and Icelandic partners from four universities/colleges.

Publications from Cristin

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HELSEVEL-Gode og effektive helse-, omsorgs- og velferdstjenester