Darren McCausland1, Philip McCallion2, Damien Brennan3, Mary McCarron1. 1. Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 2, Ireland. 2. School of Social Work, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 3. School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 2, Ireland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adults with an intellectual disability (ID) have much lower rates of employment than their counterparts without intellectual disability, which increases their risk of poverty and social exclusion. Differential treatment of people with intellectual disability in welfare and training policies suggests an expectation they will be passive welfare recipients rather than productive employees. METHODS: This paper aims to examine occupational activities by older people with intellectual disability in Ireland, exploring factors influencing outcomes using data from the IDS-TILDA study (n = 708). RESULTS: Most people were unemployed but engaged in regular occupational activity. Occupational activity was associated with better emotional/mental health. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functioning was associated with an active occupational status, while social supports most strongly predicted high occupational engagement across a range of activities. CONCLUSIONS: A focus on the individual meaning derived from a broad range of engagement may better support people with intellectual disabilities to benefit from regular occupational activity.
BACKGROUND: Adults with an intellectual disability (ID) have much lower rates of employment than their counterparts without intellectual disability, which increases their risk of poverty and social exclusion. Differential treatment of people with intellectual disability in welfare and training policies suggests an expectation they will be passive welfare recipients rather than productive employees. METHODS: This paper aims to examine occupational activities by older people with intellectual disability in Ireland, exploring factors influencing outcomes using data from the IDS-TILDA study (n = 708). RESULTS: Most people were unemployed but engaged in regular occupational activity. Occupational activity was associated with better emotional/mental health. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functioning was associated with an active occupational status, while social supports most strongly predicted high occupational engagement across a range of activities. CONCLUSIONS: A focus on the individual meaning derived from a broad range of engagement may better support people with intellectual disabilities to benefit from regular occupational activity.