Investigation of vocational skills in individuals with mild intellectual disability

People with intellectual disability are the least represented disability group in competitive employment in Turkey and worldwide. This study was planned to examine the vocational skills of young people with mild intellectual disability. Study included 18 participants with intellectual disability, aged between 15 – 24 years, who referred to Vocational Rehabilitation Center of Occupational Therapy Department, Hacettepe University (study group) and 18 healthy participants who matched the study group in terms of age, sex, and work experience (control group). Sociodemographic form and Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA) – Worker Form were applied to participants in both groups and VFA subscale sum scores were compared between groups. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in physical abilities and lower task-related abilities subtest scores (p>0.05). There were statistically significant differences between groups in self-determination, work structure, cognitive abilities, computer skills, higher task-related abilities, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and safety skills subtest scores in favor of control group (p<0.05). When the frequencies of VFA item scores were examined, it was found that the control group performed significantly better in 72 of 88 items (p <0.05). It is suggested that vocational skill assessments and vocational rehabilitation programs for young people with mild intellectual disability should be a multi-faceted progress. It is necessary to consider individual strengths and needs of people with mild intellectual disability instead of generalized predictions towards them in vocational rehabilitation processes. It is suggested that future studies should conduct vocational skill assessments in participants in different age ranges, with homogenized work experience and educational status, and compare in terms of gender.