Supporting the employment of young adults with disabilities
Recently, researchers at the Institute for Work and Health completed a study, Work-focused interventions that promote the labour market transition of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions: a systematic review. The chronic disabling health conditions that could affect young adults included in this study are mental health, intellectual/learning, physical and speech/hearing/visual disabilities.
This study was able to answer the following research questions:
- What work-focused interventions are most effective in supporting the employment of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions?
- Does the effectiveness of work-focused interventions differ for young adults living with different chronic disabling health conditions?
The researchers reviewed articled published between 1990 and 2018, and found 10 research studies to determine evidence regarding the impact of supported employment (SE) inventions on preparation and entry into competitive employment aimed at young adults ages 18-35. The types of interventions reviewed were: tailored supported employment, tailored SE in combination with a disease-specific work intervention, tailored SE in combination with self-disclosure training, youth transition demonstration enhances employment services and technology-based job interview training. Among those that were found, sufficient evidence only existed for SE as an effective intervention that can help young adults with disabilities prepare and find competitive employment.
The review found strong evidence for the use of tailored supported employment to help young adults with a disability enter competitive employment. Moderate evidence existed for tailored supported employment interventions having a positive impact on competitive employment outcomes for young adults with mental health conditions.
Tailored SE is recommended to foster preparation and entry into the labour market. Evidence-based interventions are needed to facilitate sustained work and career advancement of young adults living with different disabling health conditions.
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Reference: Jetha A, Shaw R, Sinden AR, et al Work-focused interventions that promote the labour market transition of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions: a systematic review Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2019; 76:189-198
