Effects of Vocational Rehabilitation Group Intervention on Motivation and Occupational Self-Awareness in Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

Effects of Vocational Rehabilitation Group Intervention on Motivation and Occupational Self-Awareness in Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: A Single-Blind, Randomized Control Study

This study is an intervention study that investigates the effects of a group-based approach to motivation and occupational self-awareness of individuals with intellectual disability (ID).

The intervention method was developed by following the intervention mapping method.

An 8 weeks group intervention (twice a week) was applied to individuals with ID which includes; Introduction to intervention and meeting with other group members self-awareness training occupational self-awareness taking responsibility group work and labor division problem identification problem-solving

The entire program was structured and guided by the prepared manual (available upon request from the authors). The manual was prepared by the authors of this study to ensure consistency between different sessions and groups. All sessions were diffusively explained in the manual as well as the individual session booklets. The supervisors were able to follow the structure of the sessions from those booklets. Additionally, there were visual materials for each session as in; presentations, graphics, and photographs. The program supervisors (therapists) met once every week to discuss the progress, participation, and overall status of each participant.

Homework assignments were utilized to facilitate learning. Families were not included directly in the group sessions, however were informed about the homework assignments. Homework assignments consisted of very basic mental practice and reenactment regarding the session's topic and concepts. Families were also included in the final week's sessions since graduation certificates were handed out during these sessions and also small celebrations were carried out.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. being between the ages of 18 and 65,
2. Not being currently working,
3. Having formal intellectual disability diagnosis,
4. Having scored 23 points or less from the Mini Mental State Examination,
5. Being able to understand basic Turkish language and 6) Volunteering to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Having severe communication problems specifically in self-expression,
2. Not being able to continue participating in the study for the projected study duration,
3. Not permitted to participate by legal guardian.