Vad gör jag sen? : En litteraturstudie om unga med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning och deras relation till sysselsättning och arbete

Sammanfattning: Studies and reports have shown that a significant portion of young individuals with intellectual disabilities who complete their studies at special needs upper-secondary school find themselves outside the labor market. Among these, a considerable number are described as being somewhere else, i.e., not in employment, education, or daily activities. This is despite Sweden, through the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Ds 2008:23), acknowledging their right to work on equal terms as others. The aim of this essay is to highlight the underlying reasons why young individuals with intellectual disabilities are excluded from the labor market and the reasons they find themselves in NEED (Not in Employment, Education, or Daily Activity). In a non-systematic literature review, twelve scientific articles found through PsycInfo and Libsearch were examined to address the challenges and opportunities that young individuals with intellectual disabilities face in relation to employment and work. The results were then analyzed based on theories of stigma, social justice, and developmental ecology. The findings primarily point to three reasons why young individuals with intellectual disabilities are excluded from labor markets and are in NEED: 1. stigmatization of the group, 2. structural barriers such as a complex welfare system and limited educational opportunities, and 3. difficulties in participating in today's work structure due to limited adaptive abilities.