Families Creating Employment Opportunities For Individuals With Developmental Disabilities

This volume provides an in-depth, qualitative exploration of familial entrepreneurship as an innovative employment model, being established by families in response to difficulties faced by individuals with developmental disabilities in entering the labor market. Drawing on rich qualitative data collected via research with families, this volume explores how and why familial entrepreneurs in the United States have chosen to develop businesses to employ their loved ones. Chapters offer close analysis of the challenges and opportunities associated with familial entrepreneurship and highlight the ways in which this practice supports people with developmental disabilities by providing opportunities for skill development, social interaction, and participation in meaningful activity. Recognizing familial entrepreneurship as a new and distinct hybrid employment model, the text goes on to consider how curricula, policy, and state services might better support families and underpin this form of inclusive work. The volume provides important conclusions that contribute to the fields of Disability Studies, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Education, Adult Education, Exceptional Student Education, Transition, and Vocational Rehabilitation. It is a key reading for scholars in these fields and across Education more widely.

This volume provides an in-depth, qualitative exploration of familial entrepreneurship as an innovative employment model, being established by families in response to difficulties faced by individuals with developmental disabilities in entering the labor market. Drawing on rich qualitative data collected via research with families, this volume explores how and why familial entrepreneurs in the United States have chosen to develop businesses to employ their loved ones. Chapters offer close analysis of the challenges and opportunities associated with familial entrepreneurship and highlight the ways in which this practice supports people with developmental disabilities by providing opportunities for skill development, social interaction, and participation in meaningful activity. Recognizing family entrepreneurship as a new and distinct hybrid employment model, the text goes on to consider how curricula, policy, and state services might better support families and underpin this form of inclusive, adult education. The volume provides important conclusions that contribute to the fields of Disability Studies, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Education, Adult Education, Exceptional Student Education, Transition, and Vocational Rehabilitation. It is a key reading for scholars in these fields and across Education more widely.

Designed as a guidebook for leaders at the beginning of their journey embracing neuroinclusion, Autism Friendly Business: Serving Neurodiverse Customers will provide business owners, executives, managers, team members, and associates the tools to integrate strategies and techniques that will enhance their business, while improving the delivery of a quality experience for all. Autistic individuals often experience barriers when engaging with businesses. This book provides solutions and examples on how leaders can remove obstacles to develop supportive and inclusive environments.

In the United States alone, there are roughly three million individuals living with a developmental disability, but less than a third are active in the labor market. This book provides a comprehensive approach to developing a successful jobs program for persons with developmental disabilities, drawn from the author's extensive experience and real success. The majority of persons with developmental disabilities are unemployed, underemployed, or still work in sheltered programs where it is almost impossible to reach their full potential. Job success is possible, but it requires a system based on a business model based on proven economics, rather than the traditional social services model. By employing a step-by-step procedure for gaining insight into the client, analyzing market opportunities, matching the client to a job, and supporting the client after placement, service providers can help individuals make a successful transition into good community-based employment. Job Success for Persons with Developmental Disabilities will be essential reading for profit and non-profit rehabilitation service organizations, private job development businesses, government funding agencies, special education job placement programs, transition specialists, and families of persons with developmental disabilities.

This book examines the role that technologies play in the lives of adults with learning disabilities. It analyses how design and support practices can be used to support access to technology in ways that can enhance opportunities and life experiences. Drawing on international literature and the author’s own research, the book considers what we know about past and present practices of supporting adults with learning disabilities to use technologies. It outlines how support practices can offer opportunities to overcome digital inequalities, offering a framework of core beliefs and knowledge that can inform future initiatives. The book has a particular focus on technologies, policies, practitioner communities and the characteristics of support practice. It also highlights the potential of people with learning disabilities, the potential of technology and the potential of the environment to support technology use. This important book will be highly relevant reading for academics, researchers and post-graduate students in the field of special educational needs and disabilities, digital education and learning technologies, inclusive education and social work.

This book showcases the diverse nature of policy, provision and practice for special educational needs and disability (SEND) across different international settings. Situated across a backdrop of varied international policies relating to inclusion, the book offers insights into the rhetoric of SEND policy and practice across a range of settings to contribute to our understanding of SEND provision. It explores the complexities, concerns and challenges experienced by staff, pupils, parents and carers in contemporary education settings. Chapters draw on empirical research and are structured around four parts: special education needs and disability within policy; stakeholder perceptions and experiences of SEND provision; meeting the needs of SEND children; and moving towards inclusive practice. The volume will challenge thought, stimulate critique and provoke debate in the field of special educational needs both locally and globally and will be of interest to researchers and postgraduate students in the field of inclusive education, special needs education and comparative education.

This authoritative handbook reviews the breadth of current knowledge about developmental disabilities: neuroscientific and genetic foundations; the impact on health, learning, and behavior; and effective educational and clinical practices. Leading authorities analyze what works in intervening with diverse children and families, from infancy through the school years and the transition to adulthood. Chapters present established and emerging approaches to promoting communication and language abilities, academic skills, positive social relationships, and vocational and independent living skills. Current practices in positive behavior support are discussed, as are strategies for supporting family adaptation and resilience.

International Issues in SEND and Inclusion brings together a collection of cutting-edge researches on approaches to special education needs and disability education, across 6 continents and within 12 countries. Written by authors who are experts in their own countries in relation to special educational needs and disability, the book provides a unique knowledge and understanding of different international perspectives in special educational needs, disability and inclusion. The chapters present extended case studies and reflect on current policy, practice and theory within that context, challenging assumptions which can dominate the policy and practice of inclusive education. Each of the six continents has a separate section and introduction within the book to offer a relevant approach and context for analysis. The book will be of great interest to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of inclusion, special educational needs and disability, teacher education and comparative education.