Work and Social Competence of People with Intellectual Disabilities: Barriers for Employers in Their Employment

Although the right to work a fundamental right of every individual, people with intellectual disabilities have a particularly disadvantageous position in the world of work. Employers expressed unfavorable attitudes toward employment of this group of people, compared with other persons with disabilities. The aim of this study was to examine barriers in the employment of people with intellectual disabilities are perceived by employers. Hundred & fifty-four employers in County of Primorje-Gorski Kotar, were tested with Scale of intellectual disabilities, which is an integral part of The Questionnaire of motivation to employ persons with disabilities (Kis-Glavas, 2002). The scale has four factors: Factor difficulties in social behavior, work incompetence factor, factor dependence & social non-acceptance factor. Employers think that most barriers to employment of these individuals are in their presumed incompetence & in the social behavior of these individuals, which are presented with first two factors. This findings confirms earlier ones & suggest that employers need to be inform about the abilities & capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities, in order to eliminate or mitigate the potential bias on the employment of people with intellectual disabilities. Adapted from the source document.