Casey Stencil

Intern Mentor G/T

December 17, 2014
Final Research Proposal
Title Innovation in the Workforce: Hiring Individuals with IDD
Overview of Research
Thus far in my research I have studied a variety of different topics ranging from,
how a business markets itself, what employers look for in an employee, how to
communicate with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, different
types of disabilities and the benefits of hiring someone with intellectual disabilities. All
of these topics will tie together and help individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities earn jobs. In todays society, this is a major issue that millions of individuals
are facing because those with disabilities are the last to be considered for a job position.
Studies are showing some interesting facts and data including: preconceived concerns of
employers outweigh the actual challenges and employees are pleasantly surprised by the
work ethic of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the future, I hope
to research more statistics concerning employment rates, gain personal experiences and
stories and find out what companies are hiring and which have not yet hired someone
with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I will then analyze this information to
decide on an effective way to persuade employers to hire individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities, and provide them with the information they need to be
successful in the process.
Background and History of the Issue
Individuals with disabilities have always been looked down upon by society. As
far back as the seventeen hundreds, when the first psychiatric hospital opens, to the late

nineteen hundreds, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been
treated with unjust and cruelty. Completely shunned from society, individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities were sent to mental institutions where they
typically spent the rest of their lives. These intuitions were dehumanizing; patients
experiences malpractice and were often harmed by the treatments they experience. Such
treatments included: plunge baths, shock water treatments, severe medication,
lobotomies, and isolation. In the nineteen hundreds, a new institution called Asylums,
surfaced; an asylum focused on rehabilitation through kind and gentle caring, seclusion,
and recreational activities. In the 1950s the mental institutions population reached an
alarming high of roughly 500 thousand, but that number started decreasing in the 70s.
With the turn of the century into the 2000s came a change in how society treats
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These individuals and their
families were encouraged to seek community support. Schools incorporated special
education classes which allows students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
receive the education they have a right too. Unlike special education classes in the later
1900s, special education classes are no longer isolated from the rest of the schoolthey
are incorporated into the population. Students with intellectual and developmental
disabilities typically have elective classes and lunch with other students, and disabled
students on the high function spectrum have the opportunity to take regular, honors, or
advance leveled classes. Once these individuals leave high school, it is extremely
challenging for them to find jobs, especially paying jobs. Only 80 percent of the
intellectual and developmental disabled community is employed with a paying job.
However, the Higher Education Opportunity Act and Disabilities Education Act

increased the number of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities

receiving a post secondary education. Although much progress has been made, there is
sill room for improvement towards total inclusion.
Problem Statement and Rationale
Lack of employment for the intellectual and developmental disabilities
community is an important issue because it affects the vast majority of this population. In
times of an economic recession, or high unemployment rates, it is especially difficult for
these individuals to find jobs because the jobs are going to people with college degrees
and experience. Job coaches and special education teachers could benefit from this
research because they would know how to assist the individual with intellectual and
developmental disabilities with getting a job. In high schools, some special education
departments seek internships or jobs for their students, therefore this research could
advance the process of finding job placements. Now that society is becoming more
accepting, it is time to take inclusion to the next level and involve the intellectual and
developmental disabilities community in workplaces.
Research Methodology
Research Question and Hypothesis

How can those with intellectual and developmental disabilities successfully be

marketed to earn a paying job?

By educating employers on the types of disabilities and providing facts on how to

work with them, employers will be more inclined to hire people with intellectual
and developmental disabilities.

Basis of Hypothesis

My current research is focused on understanding the various types of disabilities

and what people should expect when working with these individuals. I hope to find
successfully strategies on how to guide individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities on completely tasks successfully. Also, I hope to increase awareness on the
lack on employment for people with disabilities. Many people believe that these
individuals only work in the food industry, flower shops and cleaning services, however
their capable can exceed these jobs. Also, an incentive for hiring people with intellectual
and developmental disabilities is the work opportunity tax credit. There are many benefits
from hiring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are hidden by
prejudice and a lack of education on this topic.
Basis of Hypothesis
My current research is focused on understanding the various types of disabilities
and what people should expect when working with these individuals. I hope to find
successfully strategies on how to guide individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities on completely tasks successfully. Also, I hope to increase awareness on the
lack on employment for people with disabilities. Many people believe that these
individuals only work in the food industry, flower shops, and cleaning services, however
their capable can exceed these jobs. Also, an incentive for hiring people with intellectual
and developmental disabilities is the work opportunity tax credit. There are many benefits
from hiring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are hidden by
prejudice and a lack of education on this topic.
Research Design

I will be conducting descriptive research by interviewing various experts in this

field. I hope to interview a special education teacher that finds jobs for his/her students, a
manager of a company that already hires people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, a transition coordinator on a local level, an individual with intellectual and
developmental disabilities that works, an employee that has worked along side
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and lastly, a manager that has
not yet hired someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With these
interviews I hope to find factual context and personal context that would help market jobs
for the IDD community. Although personal context is usually bias, I feel that in this
situation it would give a personal spin that employers and employees can relate to.
Operational Definitions

IDD is an acronym for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

IDD community includes families, care providers, job coaches, and everyone
associated with working or caring for individuals with IDD

Work Opportunity Tax Credit encourages employers to hire individuals with IDD
by reducing that companys federal income tax.

Disabilities Education Act allowed students with intellectual and developmental

disabilities who earned a diploma attend college

Higher Education Opportunity Act gave students with intellectual and

developmental disabilities a greater opportunity for receiving a post-secondary
education by adjusting qualifications

Product Overview
Logistical Considerations