Understanding Barriers to Competitive Employment: A Family Perspective

Abstract

Abstract This study reports the results of a survey and interviews with families who attended Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT), a training designed to increase expectations for competitive employment and knowledge about employment resources among families who have members with disabilities, to determine their perceptions of barriers to competitive employment for people with individualized support needs (ISN). Analysis of survey and interview data identified barriers related to (a) characteristics of people with ISN, (b) agencies and programs, (c) families, (d) expectations, (e) employers, and (f) the economy. This study uses an ecological framework (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, 1986) to organize the findings. We also discuss implications for practice and policy, including recommendations for improving education and support for people with ISN, families, and professionals in the micro-, exo-, and macrosystems.