Evaluating the Impact of Integrated Practical Placement Programmes on Students With Intellectual Disabilities

BACKGROUND: Integrated Practical Placement (IPP) programmes provide students with intellectual disability an opportunity to undertake extended work placement while concurrently studying a course. These programmes showed improved (2-3 folds) employment outcomes compared to non-integrated programmes, which highlighted the need to expand these offerings. METHOD: This study evaluates a range of IPP programmes, exploring variations, their impact and understanding experiences of the participants and exploring the impact of workplace training as a non-traditional educational experience. RESULTS: Findings show 70%-100% of students enrolled in an IPP programme that delivered a sustained and integrated model of work placement either gained employment or entered further study, and that 100% of businesses and employees who participated in hosting a student for placement returned to the programme again and are open to employing people with disability. CONCLUSION: This highlighted how new education models can improve learning for people with intellectual disability and should be utilised broadly.