Affiliations: Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA | Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake City, UT,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Judith M. Holt, Utah State
University, 6880 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA. Tel.: +1 435 797 7157;
Fax: +1 435 797 7219; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: In the last few decades, systems change initiatives have
strengthened and expanded the supports and services available to people with
disabilities. However, these change efforts have not realized the intended goal
of a fully inclusive society. To achieve this goal requires commitment to full
participation and decision-making by persons with disabilities at the system
level. Their participation should guide the design of services and supports
that are responsive to consumers' actual needs, not those perceived by
professionals. Work Ability, a major systems change initiative in Utah, used a
participatory action research (PAR) process to facilitate full participation of
people with disabilities at the system level to guide the design,
implementation, and evaluation of multiple work incentive programs. An
evaluation of the PAR process used by Work Ability indicated that people with
disabilities positively perceived their ability to affect the process.
Keywords: Participatory Action Research, Disability Policy Framework, work incentives for people with disabilities, systems change
