No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Visibility, Contact and Market-Competence: Keys to the Inclusion of People With Intellectual Disabilities in the Lebanese Workplace
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2020
Abstract
Background:
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience high unemployment due to external (stigma, parental overprotection and low expectations) and internal (learned helplessness) barriers. Although Lebanon was a pioneer among Arab countries in its legislative and social activism toward inclusion of disabled people, stigma persists and a benevolence model of disability still prevails.
Aims:
This article aims at identifying the needs of people with ID, and proposing directions for future work toward their inclusion in the Lebanese workplace, based on identified needs.
Methodology:
A literature search for articles on ID in Lebanon and national and regional reports on employment of people with ID over the past two decades was performed, excluding all documentation using unclear definitions of ID or focusing on mental illness.
Findings:
Analysis of the literature highlighted the need for more familiarity and contact with, for more visibility of, and more market-competent training for people with ID in Lebanon.
Conclusions and implications:
Prejudice and faulty conceptions of ID can be reduced by increasing visibility of people with ID through increased everyday life contact opportunities. Change is urged at the level of organisational sheltered training to provide a more market-competent training for ensuring proper job placement of people with ID in mainstream labour.
Keywords
- Type
- Article
- Information
- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press
References
Abou Samra, C., Soueidan, S., Hilal, N., & El-Jardali, F. (2018). K2P Policy Brief: Addressing early identification and intervention of children with disabilities and developmental delays. Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center, Beirut, Lebanon. Retrieved from https://www.aub.edu.lb/k2p/Documents/Final%20K2P%20Policy%20Brief%20November%2026%202018_Final.pdfGoogle Scholar
Allport, G.W. (1954). The nature of prejudice. Oxford, England: Addison-Wesley. Retrieved from https://faculty.washington.edu/caporaso/courses/203/readings/allport_Nature_of_prejudice.pdfGoogle Scholar
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Arab NGO Network for Development. (2010). Human rights conditions in Lebanon civil society: Considerations in light of universal periodic review. Beirut, Lebanon: Author. Retrieved from http://www.annd.org/data/item/pdf/6.pdfGoogle Scholar
Axelsson, C., & Barrett, D. (2009). Access to social services for persons with disabilities in the Middle East: Multi-stakeholder reflections for policy reform. Disability Monitor Initiative-Middle East, CBM and Handicap International. Retrieved from http://www.hiproweb.org/uploads/tx_hidrtdocs/AccessSocialServicesDMI2009.pdfGoogle Scholar
Azzi, C. (2012). The realities of aid targeting persons with disabilities in Lebanon. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/realities-aid-targeting-persons-disabilities-pwds-lebanonGoogle Scholar
Baldwin, M.L., & Marcus, S.C. (2006). Perceived and measured stigma among workers with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 57(3), 388–392. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.57.3.388CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Combaz, E. (2018). Situation of persons with disabilities in Lebanon. K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, England: Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b584da340f0b633af812655/Disability_in_Lebanon.pdfGoogle Scholar
De Luca, R., Ferreira, M., & Botelho, D. (2016). When guilt induces charity: The emotional side of philanthropy. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 5(02), 44–58. Retrieved from http://www.ejbss.com/recent.aspx-/Google Scholar
Ditchman, N., Werner, S., Kosyluk, K., Jones, N., Elg, B., & Corrigan, P.W. (2013). Stigma and intellectual disability: Potential application of mental illness research. Rehabilitation Psychology, 58(2), 206–216. doi: 10.1037/a0032466CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) (2010). International and regional practices favoring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labor market. Retrieved from https://www.unescwa.org/sites/www.unescwa.org/files/publications/files/international_and_regional_practices_favouring_the_inclusion_of_persons_with_disabilities_in_the_labour_market.pdfGoogle Scholar
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. (2017). Strengthening social protection for persons with disabilities in Arab countries. Beirut: Lebanon, Author. Retrieved from https://www.unescwa.org/sites/www.unescwa.org/files/page_attachments/strengthening-social-protection-persons-with-disabilities-advance-copy-en.pdfGoogle Scholar
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. (2018). ESCWA Approach to key social groups and emerging issues in the Arab region. Retrieved from https://www.unescwa.org/sites/www.unescwa.org/files/publications/files/approach-key-social-groups-emerging-issues-english.pdfGoogle Scholar
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and the League of Arab States. (2014). Disability in the Arab region: An Overview. Retrieved from https://www.unescwa.org/sites/www.unescwa.org/files/page_attachments/disability_in_the_arab_region-_an_overview_-_en_1.pdfGoogle Scholar
Forrester Jones, R., Gore, N., & Melling, K. (2010). How many people with intellectual disability are employed in the UK? Tizard Learning Disability Review, 15(1), 56–58. doi: 10.5042/tldr.2010.0031CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grigal, M., Hart, D., & Migliore, A. (2011). Comparing the transition planning, postsecondary education, and employment outcomes of students with intellectual and other disabilities. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 34(1), 4–7. doi: 10.1177/0885728811399091CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inclusion International (2006). Hear our voices: A global report: People with an intellectual disability and their families speak out on poverty and exclusion. Author. Retrieved from https://inclusion-international.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Hear-Our-Voices-with-Covers.pdf.Google Scholar
International Labour Organization. (2013). Emerging good practices related to the training and job placement of persons with disabilities in Lebanon. Beirut, Lebanon: ILO, Regional Office for Arab States.Google Scholar
International Labour Organization. (2015). Towards decent work in Lebanon: Issues and challenges in light of the Syrian refugee crisis. Beirut, Lebanon: ILO, Regional Office for Arab States.Google Scholar
Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs and Arab NGO Network for Development. (2018). Healthcare needs and barriers of persons with disabilities: An exploratory study among Syrian refugees, Palestine Refugees from Syria, and Lebanese. American University of Beirut: Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.aub.edu.lb/ifi/Documents/publications/research_reports/2018-2019/20181004_healthcare_needs_persons_with_disabilities.pdfGoogle Scholar
Jahoda, A., Wilson, A., Stalker, K., & Cairney, A. (2010). Living with stigma and the self-perceptions of people with mild intellectual disabilities. Journal of Social Issues, 66(3), 521–534. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2010.01660.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kabbara, N. (1997). Lebanon. In Hodges-Aeberhard, J. & Raskin, C. (Eds.), Affirmative action in the employment of ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities (pp. 45–53). Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office.Google Scholar
Kiernan, W.E., Hoff, D., Freeze, S., & Mank, D.M. (2011). Employment first: A beginning not an end. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49(4), 300–304. doi: 10.1352/1934-9556-49.4.300CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lakkis, S. & Thomas, E. (2003). Disability and livelihoods in Lebanon. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08cdbe5274a27b200149b/ThomasLakkis.pdfGoogle Scholar
Lebanese Civil Society’s Coalition. (2015). Universal periodic review Lebanon 2015: Civil society reports. (Joint report). Beirut, Lebanon: Arab NGO Network for Development. Retrieved from http://www.annd.org/data/item/pdf/139.pdfGoogle Scholar
Lebanese Council of Disabled People. (2005). Disability report in Lebanon: Where do we stand regarding the application of Law 220/2000, and admitting the rights of the disabled people in Lebanon? Al-Raida, 22(108), 31–35.Google Scholar
Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union. (2003). Strategic directions for human rights advocacy. Retrieved from www.lphu.com/AN/doc/…/planning_document.docGoogle Scholar
McManus, J.L., Feyes, K.J., & Saucier, D.A. (2011). Contact and knowledge as predictors of attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(5), 579–590. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407510385494CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mencap Annual Report and Accounts (2018). Celebrating Mencap’s achievements over the year. London, England. Retrieved from https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-08/2018.032%20Annual%20Report_final_online%20version.pdfGoogle Scholar
Migliore, A., Mank, D., Grossi, T., & Rogan, P. (2007). Integrated employment or sheltered workshops: Preferences of adults with intellectual disabilities, their families, and staff. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 26(1), 5–19. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230853055_Integrated_employment_or_sheltered_workshops_Preferences_of_adults_with_intellectual_disabilities_their_families_and_staffGoogle Scholar
Miller, E., Chen, R., Glover-Graf, N.M., & Kranz, P. (2009). Willingness to engage in personal relationships with persons with disabilities: Examining category and severity of disability. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 52(4), 211-224. doi: 10.1177/0034355209332719CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parmenter, T.R. (2011). Promoting training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities: International experience. Employment Working Paper, No.103. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, Employment Sector, Skills and Employability Department.Google Scholar
Pettigrew, T.F. (1998). Intergroup contact theory. Annual Review of Psychology, 49, 65–85. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.49.1.65CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2006). A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(5), 751–783. http://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.5.751.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quinn, N. & Knifton, L. (2014). Beliefs, stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems in Uganda: Implications for theory and practice. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 60(6), 554–561. doi: 10.1177/0020764013504559CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Santilli, S., Nota, L., Ginevra, M.C., & Soresi, S. (2014). Career adaptability, hope and life satisfaction in workers with intellectual disability. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85, 67–74. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.02.011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scior, K. (2011). Public awareness, attitudes and beliefs regarding intellectual disability: A systematic review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(6), 2164–2182. Retreived from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2011.07.005CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scior, K., Hamid, A., Hastings, R., Werner, S., Belton, C., Laniyan, A., Patel, M., & Kett, M. (2015). Intellectual disabilities: Raising awareness and combating stigma — a global review. London, England: University College London. Available from: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ciddr/publicationsGoogle Scholar
Stade, R., Khattab, L., & van Ommering, E. (2017). Cross-sectoral formative research. Knowledge, attitude and practice study. Malmö University, Sweden, for UNICEF Lebanon. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/LCO_UNICEF_KAPStudy12-012018FINAL.pdfGoogle Scholar
Torstveit, L., Sütterlin, S., & Lugo, R.G. (2016). Empathy, guilt proneness, and gender: Relative contributions to prosocial behavior. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 12(2), 260–270. doi: 10.5964/ejop.v12i2.1097.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2018). United Nations Flagship Report on Disability and Development, 2018: Realization of the sustainable development goals by, for and with persons with disabilities. New York, NY: Author. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2018/12/UN-Flagship-Report-Disability.pdfGoogle Scholar
United Nations Development Program. (2008). Millennium Development Goals: Lebanon Report 2008. Retrieved from http://www.un.org.lb/Library/Assets/2008-Millenium-Development-Goals-LebanonReport.pdfGoogle Scholar
United Nations Development Program. (2017). Political rights of people with disabilities in Lebanon. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/content/dam/lebanon/docs/NewsLetters/EN/ENG-A5-PWD-brochure-Final.pdfGoogle Scholar
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2019, February). Lebanon fact sheet. Retrieved from http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/UNHCR%20Lebanon%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20February%202019.pdfGoogle Scholar
United Nations Population Fund. (2007). Disability in Lebanon: Vulnerability assessment of the disabled: The July 2006 War on Lebanon (Population and Development Strategies Project). Retrieved from http://www.unfpa.org.lb/Documents/Disabled-Web.aspxGoogle Scholar
Verdonschot, M.M.L., deWitte, L.P., Reichrath, E., Buntinx, W.H.E., & Curfs, L.M.G. (2009). Community participation of people with an intellectual disability: A review of empirical findings. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(4), 303–318. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01144.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vornholt, K., Uitdewilligen, S., & Nijhuis, F.J.N. (2013). Factors affecting the acceptance of people with disabilities at work: A literature review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 23(1). doi: 10.1007/s10926-013-9426-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walker, J., & Scior, K. (2013). Tackling stigma associated with intellectual disability among the general public: A study of two indirect contact interventions. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(7), 2200–2210. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2013.03.024CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wehman, P., Inge, K.J., Revell, W.G., & Brooke, V.A. (2007). Real work for real pay: Inclusive employment for people with disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.Google Scholar
Wehmeyer, M.L., Palmer, S.B., Smith, S.J., Parent, W., Davies, D. K., & Stock, S. (2006). Technology use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to support employment activities: A single-subject design meta-analysis. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 24, 81–86.Google Scholar
World Health Organization. (2011). World report on disability. Geneva, Switzerland; Author. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/report.pdfGoogle Scholar