This study focused on the perceptions and perspectives of people with intellectual disability working in open employment with support from Disability Employment Services (DES); supported employment through Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs); and social enterprise employment. 

Fifty-one people with intellectual disability working in these employment types from Sydney and the Northern Rivers participated in accessible interviews. They were asked about their experiences of choosing, finding, maintaining and changing employment and about their likes, dislikes and outcomes from working across the different types of employment. The report details the findings and their perspectives.

Key findings

• Some people with intellectual disability had no choice about where they would work.
• People with intellectual disability were successfully assisted to find work where there were both supports for their job search and conditions conducive to gaining employment.
• Many of the difficulties that people with intellectual disability experienced in their employment appear to be about the types of jobs available to them and/or their position in the labour market.
• Across all employment types, relationships and getting paid/achieving material wellbeing were the most important employment outcomes to people with intellectual disability.