Maintaining social inclusion in retirement: The transition from maintream employment to retirement for workers with intellectual disability

Abstract

Disability Employment Services (DES) have provided an opportunity for people with a significant intellectual disability to achieve employment in valued roles within Australian workplaces across a range of industries. After 30 years of these services in Australia, the first wave of people with intellectual disability who have had a working life in mainstream employment are heading towards and into retirement. The two-phase mixed methods research project reported in this thesis was aimed at the next stage of life for this population, addressing how will they continue to engage in community activities that meet their interests and aspirations once they have retired. Phase one explored the perceptions of retirement of older workers with intellectual disability and the barriers to mainstream participation in retirement. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with workers aged 40 years or over (n=18) and recent retirees with intellectual disability (n=5) who were supported by a DES. Analysis using grounded theory found working participants perceived retirement as an opportunity, a loss or a future proposition as determined by a complex interplay of individual factors. Constraints on participant’s agency in decisions related to retirement timing and lifestyle planning were identified, with the perspective of retirees reflecting that retirement was a solution to problems that had health issues at the core. Phase two was a mixed methods evaluation of the effectiveness of a pilot program intervention that adapted DES strategies to supporting older workers and retirees with intellectual disability to engage in mainstream social groups and volunteering roles. A randomised controlled trial involving 29 participants demonstrated the intervention resulted in increased time independently engaged in these community activities. The integrated quantitative and qualitative analysis of participants’ file records (n=22) found multiple indicators of social inclusion. The analysis highlighted the processes that contributed to these outcomes. The combined findings from both phases present recommendations for practice and policy in enhancing agency and social inclusion for workers with intellectual disability planning for and making the transition to retirement.