Analysis of Co-Worker Involvement in Relation to Level of Disability versus Placement Approach among Supported Employees.

The study reported in this paper investigated the type and level of co-worker involvement reported by employment specialists who placed 264 Illinois supported employees individually, in groups, or in mobile work crews, and also investigated the relation of level of disability to type of placement. The study found that co-workers associate with supported employees during the work day and assume evaluation and training responsibilities. Co-workers appear to associate, evaluate, and train a supported employee more often when the employee has mild mental retardation than when the mental retardation is severe. Supported employees who were employed in mobile work crews were much less involved with co-workers than they were with employees in other placement options. Nondisabled co-workers rarely invited the supported employees to share activities away from the work site, such as worshiping or bowling. (31 references) (JDD)