Work as joy: parental perspectives on factors affecting employment for emerging adults with Down syndrome.

Abstract

This study describes the experiences of parents of emerging adults with Down syndrome as their emerging adults become ready to enter the workforce. This qualitative phenomenological study used thematic analysis to analyze individual interviews with parents. Two themes were most salient: Facilitators of employment (including subthemes of organization skills, social skills, having a positive work attitude, and expressing work goals); and structural barriers to employment (including subthemes of transportation access, issues with work tolerance, and supervision needs). Nearly half of the emerging adults mentioned were not currently working. Parents characterized their emerging adults' work readiness skills in an overwhelmingly positive manner, but many adults with Down syndrome in our sample were still unemployed. Barriers such as transportation access and uncertainty about the best ways to address supervision needs, while less salient to parents, exert a powerful effect on employment. Special education teams and other interventionists supporting families should be cognizant of the positive ways that parents see their emerging adults' work abilities as they prepare them for competitive employment. These providers should supply detailed information on supervision available and work site demands at various job placements to assist parents in selecting work sites for their emerging adults.