Abstract:
This study sought the views of employers on school-employer job-oriented
collaboration involving students with intellectual disabilities at Reverend Father John
Special Unit, Winneba. The study was underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm and
adopted the qualitative approach, which employed the case study research design. A
sample size of nine comprising three shoe makers, three food vendors, and three
printing press owners were involved in the study. Semi-structured interview guide and
observation were used to gather data for the study, and analyzed using thematic
analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the employers’ motivating factors to
engage students in collaboration with from Reverend Father John Special Unit were
that the students got employment for some income; serve as source of education, and
social responsibility. Furthermore, source of employment, build connection, and means
of advocacy were some of the benefits employers perceive about the collaboration.
However, the employers stressed that they encountered some challenges such as theft
issues, poor self-care skills, communication gap, and poor interpersonal relationships
when they work with the students with intellectual disability. The study therefore
recommended that the authorities at Reverend Father John Special Unit together with
the parents of the students should identify and target employers in the community that
engage in work experiences that align with the basic skills the students are taught in
school and approach them for collaboration focused on fostering employment
opportunities to the students.
Description:
A thesis in the department of Special Education,
Faculty of Applied Behavioural Sciences Education, submitted to the School
Graduate Studies, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Special Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
