People with disabilities’ perspectives on how participation in a supported employment programme facilitates access to work.

Abstract

Despite extensive literature highlighting the role of supported employment in ensuring access to work for people with disabilities, there is limited research on their perspectives of supported employment. This thesis presents a research study conducted in two different supported employment programmes in South Africa. The aim of the study was to explore and describe people with disabilities’ perspectives on how participation in a supported employment programme facilitates access to work. The research objectives sought to explore the barriers to, and facilitators of, inclusion and access for people with disabilities to work; describe key elements of a supported employment programme that influences access and inclusion for people with disabilities to work; and finally, to explore people with disabilities’ perspectives regarding the value of participating in a supported employment programme.