Abstract:

The rational of the transition program E-IDEAS (Empowerment of youth with Intellectual Disabilities through Education and training for Acquiring Employment Skills) is represented by the high levels of unemployment and underemployment of youths with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in Ireland.

According to Irish National Association for People with an ID, only 5% of people with ID were at work compared with 50% of general population.

Considering that youths with ID have less favourable transition outcomes than youths in the general population and that employment opportunities are even less promising, new strategies and new perspectives are needed to empower them to acquire employment skills.
The aim of the E-IDEAS transition program consists of bridging the “gap” between what youths with ID “can do” and what they really “are doing” and to develop an evidence-based pathway that provides real-life work experience for promoting better employment skills and outcomes.

This addresses the current educational and career preparation context for youths with ID with mild to moderate ID (IQ 50-70) in Ireland. It is composed by two curricula delivered concurrently, in order to support an effective transfer of knowledge and skills:
- Employment curriculum
- Individualized internship curriculum

The first curriculum was developed using a “top/down” driven approach, which means it was based on best practice outcomes from previous researches and projects.

It is composed by 4 modules including didactic units and specific skills to support youths with ID during their internship. Through different teaching activities such as individual reflection, group discussions and role-plays participants familiarize with and learn social, independent living and employment skills.

The second curriculum is based on a “person centre approach”. In order to match person’s needs with employment context requirements, for guaranteeing an effective work-placement experience, providing the opportunity to apply what learned and experimenting job-related skills. It provides a range of aids such as job-coaching, peer-to-peer support with non-disabled co-workers and mentoring.

Through a mix of participatory research and qualitative and quantitative research methods, the transition program is engaging youth with ID, family members and carers, service providers, educators and employers.

Participants will be supported also by Assistive Technology (AT) solutions to acquire employment and independent living skills.

The delivery and evaluation of both the curricula designed as well as the mapping of customizable AT with educational and employment purposes and the analysis of the impact on different participants/stakeholders will be discussed.

Keywords:

Transition program, personalized learning pathway, curriculum, youths with Intellectual Disabilities, employment skills.