Affiliations: The Norwegian Association of Occupational Therapy,
Oslo, Norway | University College of Sør-Trøndelag, Trondheim,
Norway
Note: [] Corresponding author: Kjersti Vik, University College of
Sør-Trøndelag, Department of Health and Social Science, Program of
Occupational Therapy, P.O. Box 2320, 7004 Trondheim, Norway. E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although there is a broad political consensus in Norway
that the government should uphold the principles of "full employment" and
"work for all", the majority of people with intellectual disabilities in
Norway spend their days in segregated work arrangements or at day activity
centres. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to explore what
constitutes work and work roles for people with intellectual disabilities and
severely limited verbal communication abilities who attend a day activity
centre. METHOD: A qualitative ethnographic research design was adopted,
and the data were gathered through observing the participants and through
conducting conversational interviews with the staff members and the
participants with intellectual disabilities. Data were analysed with a
hermeneutic approach. RESULTS: The findings showed that even though
participants with intellectual disabilities engaged in specific work roles at
the day activity centre, these work roles did not constitute work as it is
ordinarily conceptualised and valued in society. CONCLUSION: Despite the very real enjoyment that the participants derive from participating in
organised occupation, the work that they do has little status or value, and the
activity centre itself is not a satisfactory workplace for people with intellectual disabilities.
Keywords: Occupation, participation, inclusion, work role
