A Systems Analysis of Factors that Lead to the Successful Employment of People with a Disability

BACKGROUND: Disability Employment Services (DES) is the primary vehicle in Australia charged with promoting and supporting successful open employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This research examined the client consultant dynamic to see what factors were at play in promoting successful employment. METHOD: Research was undertaken using a Multiple Perspective Design that resides within the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology. Clients with a wide variety of ID/DD (n=24) and Employment Consultants (n=23) were interviewed using semi-structured interviews in small group settings. The data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) that allowed for themes to be developed. RESULTS: The research highlighted five primary themes: Relationships, Processes, Compliance Driven Systems, Employers and the Environment. These themes provide a base to develop an understanding of some of the factors influencing employment outcomes amongst the client participant base and the disability employment consultants. The results highlighted disparities in perceived abilities, attitudes and a lack of understanding between the system participants. The results also highlighted the influence of ecology on employment outcomes and a high level of disequilibrium within the employment system and environment. IMPLICATIONS: The inability of the disability employment system to use known evidence-based processes that support clients with ID/DD and consultants has resulted in a system that lacks any real understanding of the client and consultant needs, placing primacy on compliance and system needs ahead of the stated purpose of the program which is to support people with a disability to gain and maintain meaningful employment consistent with their capacity and career aspirations. The research highlights the importance of relationships in creating real understanding of the client to supporting employment outcomes