Social Competences for Professional Activation on the Open Labour Market of People with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

The article lists the causes and effects of the low level of professional activity of people with intellectual disabilities (NI). On the basis of a survey with service employees, identified were barriers and chances of professional cooperation between people in the intellectual norm and people with intellectual disability. The paper presents a new model of education of young people with intellectual disabilities, to improve employment opportunities. Using the participant observation of entrepreneurship activities in a joint group, an integrative approach was proposed, i.e. social inclusion, in which training in interpersonal contacts (cognitive-behavioural) and practical teaching - external (in real situations) - play an essential role during the lesson. The study was conducted with the participation of middle school students with moderate and significant intellectual disability from the Special Education and Training Centre No 3 in Krakow (SOSW 3). Co-participants in the study were students from the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management of the Jagiellonian University.