The effect of different types of employment on quality of life.

Background: Despite research that has investigated whether the financial benefits of open employment exceed the costs, there has been scant research as to the effect sheltered and open employment have upon the quality of life of participants. The importance of this research is threefold: it investigates outcomes explicitly in terms of quality of life; the sample size is comparatively large; and it uses an established and validated questionnaire.

Method: One hundred and seventeen people with intellectual disability (ID) who were employed in either open or sheltered employment by disability employment agencies were interviewed.

Factor stability of the Schalock and Keith (1993) Quality of Life Questionnaire.

In the 1990s, there was a significant change in how governments viewed publicly provided services. In the area of disability services, it has been suggested that providers could demonstrate their effectiveness with reference to the quality of life of their clients. One instrument often used in quality of life research for people with intellectual disabilities is the Quality of Life Questionnaire; however, before this instrument can be used with confidence, the reliability of its scores must be demonstrated.