abstract: 'Purpose:Persons with a developmental disability have the lowest rate of

  labour force participation relative to other disabilities. The widening

  gap between the labour force participation of persons with versus

  without disability has been an enduring concern for many governments

  across the globe, which has led to policy initiatives such as labour

  market activation programs, welfare reforms, and equality laws. Despite

  these policies, persistently poor labour force participation rates for

  persons with developmental disabilities suggest that this population

  experiences pervasive barriers to participating in the labour force.

  Materials and methods:In this study, a two-phase qualitative research

  design was used to systematically identify, explore and prioritize

  barriers to employment for persons with developmental disabilities,

  potential policy solutions and criteria for evaluating future policy

  initiatives. Incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives, a Nominal

  Group Technique and a modified Delphi technique were used to collect and

  analyze data. Results:Findings indicate that barriers to employment for

  persons with developmental disabilities are multi-factorial and policy

  solutions to address these barriers require stakeholder engagement and

  collaboration from multiple sectors. Conclusions:Individual,

  environmental and societal factors all impact employment outcomes for

  persons with developmental disabilities. Policy and decision makers need

  to address barriers to employment for persons with developmental

  disabilities more holistically by designing policies considering

  employers and the workplace, persons with developmental disabilities and

  the broader society. Findings call for cross-sectoral collaboration

  using a Whole of Government approach.'
affiliation: 'Zwicker, JD (Corresponding Author), Univ Calgary, Sch Publ Policy, Downtown
  Campus,906 8th Ave SW,5th Floor, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9, Canada.

  Khayatzadeh-Mahani, Akram; Wittevrongel, Krystle; Zwicker, Jennifer D., Univ Calgary,
  Sch Publ Policy, Downtown Campus,906 8th Ave SW,5th Floor, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9,
  Canada.

  Khayatzadeh-Mahani, Akram, Kerman Univ Med Sci, Inst Futures Studies Hlth, Hlth
  Serv Management Res Ctr, Kerman, Iran.

  Nicholas, David B., Univ Calgary, Fac Social Work, Calgary, AB, Canada.'
author: Khayatzadeh-Mahani, Akram and Wittevrongel, Krystle and Nicholas, David B.
  and Zwicker, Jennifer D.
author-email: zwicker1@ucalgary.ca
author_list:
- family: Khayatzadeh-Mahani
  given: Akram
- family: Wittevrongel
  given: Krystle
- family: Nicholas
  given: David B.
- family: Zwicker
  given: Jennifer D.
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1570356
eissn: 1464-5165
files: []
issn: 0963-8288
journal: DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
keywords: 'Developmental disability; barriers to employment; policy solutions;

  prioritization; Nominal Group Technique; Delphi; Canada'
keywords-plus: 'AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS; NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE; INTELLECTUAL

  DISABILITY; YOUNG-ADULTS; SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT; EMPLOYERS ATTITUDES;

  POSTSCHOOL OUTCOMES; VOCATIONAL SKILLS; PEOPLE; TRANSITION'
language: English
month: SEP 10
number: '19'
number-of-cited-references: '90'
orcid-numbers: Khayatzadeh Mahani, Akram/0000-0003-3297-7660
pages: 2696-2706
papis_id: 3cb06b7e77e26e9014d6565e074a0952
ref: Khayatzadehmahani2020prioritizingbarriers
researcherid-numbers: 'Nicholas, David/ISB-6146-2023

  Khayatzadeh Mahani, Akram/A-3074-2017'
times-cited: '29'
title: Prioritizing barriers and solutions to improve employment for persons with
  developmental disabilities
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000568865800003
usage-count-last-180-days: '2'
usage-count-since-2013: '3'
volume: '42'
web-of-science-categories: Rehabilitation
year: '2020'