Daily activities : a way to social inclusion for persons with intellectual disabilities?

Sammanfattning: Background: Social inclusion is an issue for persons with intellectual disability; the group often suffer from discrimination on the open labour market and are subject to social exclusion. Persons with intellectual disability have the right to daily activities that have the intention to lead to an employment on the open labour market. By exploring and identifying issues regarding social inclusion for persons with intellectual disabilities at daily activities, there is a possibility to lift forward the voice of an excluded group. The results of this study can serve as information about the current status of social inclusion at daily activities centres. Objective: To investigate if and how daily activities for persons with intellectual disabilities can lead to social inclusion. Methods: Five supervisors that work alongside persons with intellectual disabilities at the daily activities centre were interviewed. Inductive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data material gathered. Results: Activities to enhance social inclusion did not take place at the daily activities centres. Persons with intellectual disabilities had severe difficulties to achieve an employment on equal terms as persons without disabilities on the open labour market. Conclusion: In order to achieve a higher degree of social inclusion for persons with intellectual disabilities at the daily activities centre following is needed; individual planning, a high degree of service user influence and sufficient financial- and human resources.