Quality of life for people with psychiatric disabilities employed in extended employment programs in two Arab towns in Israel: an exploratory study.

Introduction: This study aims to examine the quality of life (QOL) for people with psychiatric disabilities who are engaged in extended employment programs (homogeneous versus heterogeneous) in the Arab-populated Triangle Area of Israel. The homogeneous program participants are exclusively Arab while the heterogeneous program includes both Arabs and Jews.

Methods: Quantitative research study of 104 adults with psychiatric disabilities engaged in two communal extended employment programs.

Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Outcomes for Israelis With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Community.

This study is among the first pre-post examinations to explore differences in subjective well-being, adaptive and maladaptive behavior, close relationships, community integration, family members' satisfaction with residential and community living settings, and family contact before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Participants demonstrated better life satisfaction and adaptive behavior before COVID-19 than after COVID-19. Participants reported closer relationships with family members and peers before COVID-19 and closer relationships with staff members after COVID-19.

Social involvement, socio-economic status and subjective well-being of parents of offspring with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: The study explores whether households' socio-economic status and social involvement can moderate the association between stress and subjective well-being among parents of offspring with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Method: The random national sample comprised 301 parents caring for offspring with IDD. Measurements consist of a household income survey, a questionnaire on resources and stress, a social involvement questionnaire and a personal well-being index.

Exploring the right to work among persons with disabilities: The role of labor-oriented values.

Background: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) assumes that persons with disabilities have similar rights, motivations to work and personal values as those without disabilities.

Objective: The article examines the corroboration between this assumption and real-life facts to better understand the importance of labor-oriented values in people with disabilities.

Methods: We tested the relationship between human values, employment and wages among Israelis with disabilities who cope with prejudice, negative attitudes and a lack of accessible workplaces in comparison to Israelis without disabilities.

Parents' psychological, social and financial outcomes as related to the transition of their offspring with ID from adolescence to adulthood.

Background: In general, there is extensive research on parents of young children with ID, particularly studies on stress and coping, social support as associated with quality of life. Unfortunately, there is scarce evidence -based knowledge on parental coping resources and well-being during the transition of their offspring from childhood to adulthood and thereafter.

Aims: This research responds to the scarce knowledge on the effect of the transition of children with ID into adulthood and particularly within adulthood on families.

Caregiving of offspring with intellectual developmental disabilities in Israeli Jewish and Arab households: Financial and psychosocial differences.

Background: This research responds to the lack of evidence-based knowledge regarding the psychosocial and financial gaps among caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities living in Jewish and Arab households. It examines the financial gaps and explores whether caregivers' social economic status and households' affiliation (Jewish vs. Arab) can explain the psychosocial variables such as levels of stress, social participation types and rates, and use of public services.

Personal and social life of Israeli aging mothers to adult children with intellectual disabilities: differences related to family status and living arrangement.

This study explores whether aging mothers living in two-parent families whose offspring with intellectual disabilities do better in respect to their undesired daily life events, level of social support and well-being scores than mothers of one-parent families and whether there is difference related to their living arrangement (living with their offspring at home or out-of-home)? Sample consists of 160 Israeli aging mothers of adult children with intellectual disabilities living at home or out-of-home. Core findings show that one-parent mothers do worse in respect to undesired life events than those living in two-parent ones. However, mothers of one-parent families whose adult children live at home report more engagement with family members than those of two-parent families whose children live out-of-home.

Beyond medical diagnosis: Factors contributing to life satisfaction of women with epilepsy in Israel.

This study was an exploratory study aimed to examine the contribution of both objective variables (such as education, occupational status, and leisure activity) and subjective variables (such as perceived disability, body image, and feminine self-image) to the life satisfaction of women with epilepsy in Israel. The study also sought to compare the findings with earlier studies of women with epilepsy or other disabilities in order to identify similar patterns in their life satisfaction. The study included 70 women, who had applied in the past to the Israel Epilepsy Association to obtain information and leisure activities.

Israeli employers' hiring intentions for recruiting employees with disabilities: how do they compare with US employers?

Focus groups were used to study differences between Israeli and U.S. nonprofit and for-profit employers' hiring intentions of potential employees with disabilities.

Arab mothers' involvement with their offspring with severe intellectual disabilities after placement in institutional care.

This study examines the cognitive-behavioral and emotional involvement among 81 Israeli Arab mothers after placement of their offspring with severe intellectual disabilities in institutional care, with respect to mothers' and offspring's background data and measures of divisional roles in the Arab family. Core findings indicate that the most important predictors of maternal cognitive and behavioral involvement are the existence of psychiatric disability in addition to intellectual disability, and the offspring's duration of stay in institutional care. These predictors were poorer in explaining maternal emotional involvement.

Predicting supportive behavior of parents and siblings to a family member with intellectual disability living in institutional care.

This feasibility study examines whether the theory of planned behavior can predict supportive behavior provided by either parents to their offspring--or adult siblings to their brothers and sisters--with an intellectual disability living in 2 Israeli institutional care facilities. Participants were 67 parents and 63 siblings who were interviewed at baseline regarding their intentions to visit their offspring or sibling in the institutional care facility, to contact the caregiving staff, and to accept visits at home. Parents' and siblings' behavior regarding visitation and supportive behavior was examined after 6 months by caregiving staff.

Applicability of the Theory of Planned Behavior in predicting supportive behaviors by parents and adult siblings of immediate relatives with intellectual disability.

This research examines the applicability of the Theory of Planned Behavior in predicting supportive behaviors by parents and adult siblings of immediate relatives with intellectual disability. Participants were 67 parents and 63 siblings whose immediate relatives with intellectual disability resided in two institutional care facilities. Three aspects of supportive assistance behavior were evaluated: home visits, visits to the institution, and the relationship with the caregiving staff.

Representations of the Americans with Disabilities Act employment-related issues in the Wall Street Journal (1990-2008): a feasibility study.

This feasibility study examines the coverage of employment-related issues related to people with disabilities in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The study is a first in a series of future studies focusing on disability issues in the international economic media. A survey of 39 newspaper articles published in the Wall Street Journal, a leading and most circulated business newspaper in the USA.

Israeli policy toward veterans with disabilities: a snapshot and insights of the proposed reform.

The policy toward Israeli veterans with disabilities is based on the Invalids Law (Benefits and Rehabilitation) of 1949 . This legislation has served as the foundation for an intricate disability policy, providing benefits and psychosocial services for veterans with disabilities. Sixty two years later, in light of the emergence of a new social model and disability rights conceptualization, there is a need to reevaluate the current legislation and policy.

Social participation of employed and unemployed Israelis with disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between employment and social participation among a random, national sample of 597 Israelis with disabilities of working age. Overall findings indicated that employed people with disabilities were significantly more integrated in social and civic activities than the unemployed. Whereas most of the unemployed attributed their restricted patterns of participation to the lack of adequate financial resources, accessible transportation, and encouragement from community organizations, the employed reported lack of time as their main barrier.

Examining outpatient health care utilization among adults with severe or profound intellectual disabilities living in an urban setting: a brief snap shot.

The present study examined the health status and outpatient health care utilization among 52 adults with severe or profound intellectual disabilities (IDs) living with their families or in group homes in New York City. Bivariate and regression analyses among demographic variables, medical conditions, health care utilization, and type of living situation were conducted. Findings indicate that demographic factors and health statuses were similar regardless of living situation, except for age and the presence of Down Syndrome, that is, younger people and people with Down Syndrome were more likely to live with family than in group homes.

Quality of life of Israeli adults with borderline intelligence quotient and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The quality of life of 127 Israeli young adults diagnosed as having borderline intelligence quotient and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and living in community residences, was studied with respect to personal, disability and social ecology data. Overall, quality of life was associated with studying in inclusive education, total attention-deficit disorder symptomatology score, monthly income, participation in leisure activities and having a personal friend. Two significant predictors of quality of life were attention-deficit disorder symptomatology score and monthly income.

Adjustment to severe disability: constructing and examining a cognitive and occupational performance model.

Ninety adults with severe physical disabilities were tested with respect to their adjustment to severe disabilities in their adapted computerized work environment 1 year following occupational therapy consultation. The research goal was to examine a model that incorporates variables from the cognitive coping model (self-esteem, appraisal and social support) and variables from the occupational performance model (engagement in activities, involvement in work/study, time of typing performance and environmental adaptations). Findings showed goodness of fit between the observed and the proposed research models, although few changes in positions and relations were found.

Consideration of out-of-home placement among Israeli Jewish and Arab parents of children with disabilities.

This article is based on a secondary analysis of a random sample of 512 Israeli parents of children with disabilities (ages 3-17) regarding their consideration of out-of-home placement. Major findings showed that Arab parents reported greater levels of personal and family burden compared to Jewish parents. Despite that fact, Arab parents rarely considered out-of-home placement.

Quality of life of men and women with borderline intelligence and attention deficit disorders living in community residences: a comparative study.

The research studies the quality of life (QOL) of 127 men and women diagnosed as having a borderline IQ and ADHD living in two major residential programs of the Sharon region in central Israel in respect to their personal, disability, and social ecological variables. Core findings indicate that men and women differ significantly according to their educational background. Among those who studied in a regular educational environment, the main predictor of men's QOL is their monthly income, whereas the main predictor for women is their level of attention deficit symptoms.

Intention to apply or accept an alternative job among participants of extended employment programs.

The research studied 249 people employed in extended employment programs in northern Israel with respect to their intention to apply for an alternative job (an active step) or to accept a new job offer (a passive step). Findings indicated that young, single people who were living with their parents and perceived their level of disability as mild indicated more intention to apply for an alternative job or to accept a new job offer. Furthermore, people with low monthly wages, less satisfaction with their income and with the extended employment program in general, and a lack of participation in non-employment activities expressed a greater inclination to apply for an alternative job or to accept a new job offer.