According to Census 2001, 5% of the total population in South Africa experienced some kind of disability. One of the workplaces is sheltered workshops run by Mental Health in South Africa.
OWN INTEREST AND EXPERIENCE
SOCIAL RELEVANCE
People with intellectual disabilities should have a say in what is best for them in terms of policy planning and training.
THEORETICAL RELEVANCE
CONCEPTUAL LOCATION OF THE STUDY
KEY RESEARCH QUESTIONS
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
DEFINITION OF TERMS .1 Protected workshops
- Service users
- Service providers
- Contract work
- Skills training
- Supported employment
It involves a process of matching the service user to the work available in the open labor market. Support can take the form of a phone call, factory visit or a visit to the service provider.
PREVIEW OF THE CHAPTERS THAT FOLLOW
Six participants' experiences of skills training in sheltered workshops are presented in the context of their lives in the form of short life story narratives. The overall aim of the study was to investigate the types of skills training adults are exposed to in sheltered workshops.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The study aimed to document the perceptions and experiences of mildly intellectually disabled adults in relation to skills training at sheltered workshops. In order to obtain an in-depth understanding of the participants' perceptions and experiences, I used two methods of data collection, namely interview and observation.
RESEARCH STYLE
One of the strengths of qualitative research design is that it often allows much greater flexibility than in most quantitative research designs (Silverman, 2000). By conducting interviews with the participants, I was able to gather information about them that I would not have been able to obtain if I had opted for a quantitative research design.
RESEARCH APPROACH
Using the qualitative approach provided me with a rich and in-depth understanding of the lives of persons with disabilities and their experiences. I wanted them to be part of the process and have the final say on what is written about them.
DATA COLLECTION METHODS
Triangulation helped me gain a range of perspectives on service users' perceptions and experiences of skills training and what activities were included in the workshop. I found this to be true of the service users I interviewed as, as people with mild intellectual disabilities, oral communication was not necessarily their strength.
DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS
The information they shared with me was helpful in shedding light on the perceptions and experiences of service users. Conducting interviews allowed me to see the world of service users through their lenses and the issues they face as adults with intellectual disabilities.
OBSERVATION
By this time, a degree of trust had developed between the service's users and me. The second interview was conducted after the observation at a time convenient for the service user and the workshop manager.
SAMPLE
The criteria used to select the service users were that they were mildly intellectually disabled adults, had undergone skills training and were employed in sheltered workshops. Based on these criteria, the service users were selected by the workshop staff of Challenge Unlimited at the two protected workshops.
SELECTION OF SITE
In terms of race, there was one white service user and five African service users.
NEGOTIATING ACCESS TO THE RESEARCH SITES AND PARTICIPANTS It is important for the researcher to obtain consent to gain access to the institution or
They were politely asked if they wished to participate and informed that their participation was entirely voluntary. The interviews were conducted at their workplace in order not to inconvenience them and not cause unnecessary costs.
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
I transcribed the data I collected from the interviews and these were then looked at in conjunction with the observation notes. Other codes were suggested by emerging themes from the data itself such as stigma and self-confidence.
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
In qualitative data, the subjectivity of the respondents, their opinions, attitudes and perspectives together contribute to a degree of bias (Cohen, Manion and Morrison, 2000, p.105). Another attempt of mine to validate the data was to ask the service users to read the transcripts of the interviews and provide input.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
I even asked them to show me what they actually did in the workshop and in this way recognized their self-determination and expertise in what they were doing. During the interview process, not being able to understand and speak IsiZulu fluently was also a problem for me.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
I also mentioned to service users that if they were not happy or satisfied with the interview, they were not forced to do so. To build a relationship of trust, I allowed service users to read or hear their narratives as they were transcribed.
SUMMARY
I made it clear to them that they were free to withdraw from the study at any stage. They had the freedom to change any information so that the stories were reported in the way that service users felt were most accurate, giving them ownership of their stories.
INTRODUCTION
THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS
The biopsychosocial model of disability
The framework also focuses on the concept of self-determination and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. The issue of self-determination and its effects within the biopsychosocial model will be examined.
Multiple intelligences
Self-determination is when a person takes charge of their own life and makes decisions about their own life. The issue of self-determination and its effects is important in my study to understand the perceptions of people with intellectual disabilities and whether they were able to overcome difficulties and take responsibility for their lives.
LITERATURE REVIEW
- INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
- DEFINITIONS
- CAUSES
- ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS
- CATEGORISATION ISSUES
- ADULT EDUCATION AND LOW SKILLED LEARNING
- LEARNING AMONG INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED
- EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS TRAINING
- BARRIERS TO TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
- BENEFITS OF EMPLOYMENT
- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
- PROTECTED WORKSHOPS
- INTEGRATION INTO MAINSTREAM EMPLOYMENT
- SELF-INITIATED PROJECTS
Lack of employment opportunities and skills training are some of the reasons for high unemployment among people with disabilities. There are also labor procurement and retention programs that have been introduced to allow the employment of persons with disabilities in the open labor market. Of the persons with disabilities, 742 were trained and employed by Fundosa Group companies.
SERVICE USER 1- DAVID LE CREST
I used to like that school, he recalls, "and it was good, but I don't miss it anymore." He found the work at Challenge more exciting. The supervisor initially showed the service users the various consumables used for block making. When customers came to the workshop David said "we show them the pattern ... they pick which blocks ... tell them the price ... pack them on the trucks." He helped with the inventory.
SERVICE USER 2 PRECIOUS SHANGE
Precious was quite aware of her physical disabilities and often said "I have a problem." She said "My hand and leg are like this." It seems that Precious had not accepted this disability even though she was independent in her daily activities. I put it this way...she messes with me...she hits me...I hit her back." In the same breath (in a rushed, excited tone) she also said "but we also do things together. I goes to her church ... uh ... she spoils me sometimes ... when she's sick I take care of her ... I worry about what's wrong with her ... I worry about my grandmother and she cares about me.” Her relatives understood her and did not make fun of her.
INTRODUCTION
I was also told that service users had an excellent track record when it came to participation. Supervisors mentioned that it was surprising to see a transformation in some of the service users. As the sheltered workshop was an NGO, service users did not pay for their lessons.
SERVICE USER 3 ELIZABETH NDLOVU
During the first interview, she was willing to give a demonstration of what she had learned. Although she was familiar with beading she had not made any jewelry before. She was familiar with what was needed to make jewelry as she mentioned, "I need beads...need a needle to thread beads...need scissors and cotton, not normal cotton.. . needs stronger cotton and hook." She gave a demonstration of how she could string beads with the end result being a piece of jewelry.
SERVICE USER 4 THANDEKA NGUNI
Thandeka was disappointed that she could not get an education like her other siblings. Although she had a good relationship with her siblings, she said she got sick when she was angry. Only her family knew that she worked at Challenge and they were happy that she was employed.
SERVICE USER 5 NOTHANDO ZUNGU
Her husband knew she was hearing impaired and he accepted her as she was. Nothando received no training for the work she was currently doing at Challenge. Soft spoken, she didn't like other people yelling at her.
SERVICE USER 6 NELISIWE VEZI
In fact she seemed relieved she wasn't taking part because she said she was embarrassed to dance in public. She did not come into contact with customers because she was unable to speak English. She hoped that now that she was taking ABET classes she would not experience this problem.
What are the experiences of the mildly intellectually disabled adults at protected workshops with regard to skills training?
This skill is only taught when service users have no other contract work. None of the service users I interviewed pursued the hobby of jewelry making even though they had acquired the skill. The perception of the supervisor who taught block making was that service users needed constant supervision while learning the skill.
What are their perceptions of skills training at these workshops?
Supervisors often checked on service users to ensure they completed tasks as instructed. At the Challenge, service users are lucky enough to attend ABET classes twice a week. Service users were free to ask questions to verify things they were unsure about.
OTHER THEMES THAT EMERGED
- STIGMA
- CONFIDENCE
- TYPES OF INTELLIGENCES
- WORK OPPORTUNITIES
Service users in the survey also believe that employers discriminate against them. During the interviews, I noticed that many users of the service had their heads down and were shy to respond. Many of the service users have never sought work on the open labor market because they are quite satisfied with their work in sheltered workshops.
SUMMARY
While employed, she was mocked by her colleagues for not being fluent in English. Very often their comments left her in tears, but she continued to work because she needed the money. When she was out of work, she again looked for work at the sheltered workshop.
INTRODUCTION
CONCLUSIONS
- Service Users
- Skills training at protected workshops
- Employment opportunities
- Confidence
- Protected Workshops
- Workshop Supervisors
- Stigma
Service users are very satisfied with employment in Challenge and are not under pressure to find employment on the open labor market. The negative attitude of employers is seen by service users as an obstacle in finding a job. The supervisors showed great initiative as they managed to organize ABET and dance classes for service users.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AREAS OF FURTHER RESEARCH
- PROVISION OF MARKETABLE SKILLS
- PROTECTED WORKSHOPS
- SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT
- SELF-INITIATED PROJECTS AND MICRO-ENTERPRISES
Supervisors must enable service users to generate an income using the skills they have acquired. By not teaching service users how to make certain pieces of jewelry, the notion of dependency is perpetuated. Service users' confidence and self-esteem will be strengthened if they become independent individuals.
SUMMARY
As people with disabilities are reluctant to find work in the open labor market, the development of micro-enterprises and entrepreneurship projects are seen as alternative strategies for employment of disabled people. It also enabled people with disabilities to maintain their dignity of employment opportunity and through interaction with business supporters; it helped to change their attitude and break down barriers of stereotyping. Policy Statement on the Management of the Employment, Development and Career Progression of People with Disabilities in the Western Cape Provincial Government.
Ethical Clearance
Request for Permission to Conduct Research P.O. Box 74124
Singh
APPROVAL TO CONDUCT RESEARCH
INSTRUMENT: INTERVIEW
