Promoting Autonomy and Employment of Individuals with Intellectual Disability: The Role of Universities

A positive correlation exists between having a university degree and being employed. The opportunity to earn a university degree, however, is challenging for students with intellectual disability, as universities are typically not adapted to their unique higher education needs. This negatively impac...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Morcillo Moreno, Juana, Bornman, Juan
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
Repositorio:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
OAI Identifier:oai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/39252
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.14421/ijds.110203
https://hdl.handle.net/10578/39252
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Disability inclusion
Employment
Higher education
Human rights
Inclusion
Intellectual disability
Success stories university
Descripción
Sumario:A positive correlation exists between having a university degree and being employed. The opportunity to earn a university degree, however, is challenging for students with intellectual disability, as universities are typically not adapted to their unique higher education needs. This negatively impacts those students’ employment opportunities and, consequently, also their autonomy because employment is often a driver of important life decisions. In response, the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain embarked on a program, ‘Incluye e Inserta UCLM’ (‘Inclusion and Labour Insertion at UCLM’), to accommodate students with intellectual disabilities by implementing an accessible university qualification for them. Universities are knowledge-generating centers and should also fulfill a social function. To do so, universities must be in contact with society to determine societal needs and provide some solutions. The abovementioned socially responsive university program offers students with intellectual disabilities a unique opportunity to fulfill their academic and personal growth.