1. NZDSN National Employment Symposium “Why Work Matters”
David Matthews & Mel Smith, CCS Disability Action
Getting the Life I Want – CCS Disability Action Employment Related Research

2. Getting the Life I Want A place to start Presented by David Matthews and Mel Smith

3. Background Research Community Participation Research 2003
“I am here” – Article 19 Research 2012
Asked some important questions
Where do adults with disabilities spend their time and what do they do in these places?
Who do they link with and what social relationships and networks do they have?
What is their sense of belonging in these places and spaces?
How do others perceive them?
What are the barriers that exist which prevent them from having a meaningful connection with their community?

4. Community Participation Research 2003
People told us:
They wanted to feel safe, supported and valued, in all settings.
They simply wanted more community participation.
Employment was really important to people with high support needs.
People participated in communities in different ways.
They had few friends. The friendships they developed were restricted to the contexts in which they participated and were difficult to sustain.
Family was important and people in more contact with family participated in more activities.

5. I am Here – Article 19 Research 2012
Participants told us:
They all had experienced significant challenges.
Some had difficulties finding a home setting beyond either the family home or a residential home owned by an organisation.
Those who lived more independently experienced relatively better social contacts and community participation experiences although the cost of living was an issue.
Only one out of the 12 had experienced real employment.
Most places they identified within their communities were public ones.

6. Getting the Life I Want
So…..Why Now?
Taking place at the moment of a significant change in Vocational Policy and the disability sector
Aligns with the original intent of Pathways to Inclusion, and the move towards self directed service delivery by appropriately asking disabled people about their imaginings of “vocation” and “support”
learn more about the value people place on something as a prelude to informing and guiding practical action.
Frames the path toward a more inclusive Aotearoa / NZ as lying in changing social practices of the non-disabled community in ways that accord with the aspirations disabled people hold for themselves.

7. What does “Vocational” mean?
Presentation Name
What does “Vocational” mean?
Definition – meaningful routine, sustained activity that enhances personal growth, is personally rewarding and productively connects people with community
(Adapted from Nicholas et al 2014)
Move towards a focus on employment
A neo-liberal shift towards reducing welfare dependence and potentially the scope of State responsibility? OR
is this the shift disabled people are asking services to make?

8. ‘Vocational’ for the purpose of this research
Presentation Name
‘Vocational’ for the purpose of this research
Pathways to Inclusion
participation of people with disabilities in employment
participation of people with disabilities in communities

9. What did we do? An Integrated Literature Review
Talked to a research partner
Developed an idea and scope
Changed our minds a little and then agreed to……..
Project with 3 Methodological Elements:
An Integrated Literature Review
A National Online survey
Key Informant Interviews

10. We started with…..the Online Survey
Getting the Life I Want
We started with…..the Online Survey
Overall response rate of 14.6%
48% males and 52% female participants
Four out of every ten respondents didn’t know what their goals were with men being less sure than their female counterparts
Of those who did name a goal most named only 1 goal and that goal was overwhelming to gain some form of paid employment.

11. Getting the Life I Want
What did we find out?
72% of respondents were not in any form of paid employment - But only 20% of respondents expressing a preference not to be in paid employment (80% wanted to work).

12. Getting the Life I Want
What did we find out?
74% of respondents worked for less hours than they would have preferred
75%
68%

13. What Surprised Us?
How counter-productive volunteering can be to an aim of employment
People are up for being pushed harder – not looking for the easy route

14. Where to from here?
Utilise the Literature Review and responses from people as a start point for change
Apply a focus to community connectedness and a point of difference
Move from a social responsibility approach to focus on diversity in the workforce
Ensure a wider context for conversations about contribution with team members

15. Where can you find the research?
Hard copies of the reports are available here today
PDFs will be on our website by the end of August
Hosted on the website of the Donald Beasley Institute by the end of August