Reconstructed discourses of (un)employment for people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Adopting a qualitative paradigm, this article examines the discourses of employment of people with intellectual disabilities. Through interviews with 6 social workers and grounded theory analysis, it is revealed that the lack of accessible workplaces, the deprivation or restriction of legal capacity that is still practiced, the fears of the public and of the relatives, and the lack of confidence in the ability of a person with a disability to work, all lead to a higher incidence of non-employment of people with intellectual disabilities than of their inclusion in the open labour market. The reconstructed discourses not only reveal a deeper understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities, but also help to plan the process of psychosocial support.