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A Phenomenological Exploration of Familial Entrepreneurship as an Employment Option for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

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Date Issued:
2019
Abstract/Description:
Individuals with developmental disabilities, especially those with high support needs, are less likely to obtain competitive employment through traditional means than their neurotypical peers. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of seven familial entrepreneurs who responded to the lack of opportunities for their loved ones by creating a business to provide them a job. Findings from this study revealed that familial entrepreneurship is a hybrid-type of employment that has similar characteristics to traditional pathways of employment, but is distinct. It offers a post-secondary option in an environment where individuals with developmental disabilities can develop work skills, have social relationships, interact with members of the community, and in some situations, earn income. The businesses also provide training programs, settings for evaluations and assessments, and become vendors of government-supported employment programs, expanding their impact from the person they are designed to support, to the broader community. Employees and participants at the businesses experience an improvement in quality of life, access to a supportive community, and belonging. For the familial entrepreneurs, the study found that they encounter an immense learning curve in the areas of industry knowledge; business practice; supervising, employing and training individuals with developmental disabilities; and how to gather resources and support. This study also revealed that more clarity is needed to determine if this pathway can provide long-term sustainable employment outcomes.
Title: A Phenomenological Exploration of Familial Entrepreneurship as an Employment Option for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.
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Name(s): Percival, Jennifer Pollack, author
Bryan, Valerie C., Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
College of Education
Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2019
Date Issued: 2019
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 202 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Individuals with developmental disabilities, especially those with high support needs, are less likely to obtain competitive employment through traditional means than their neurotypical peers. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of seven familial entrepreneurs who responded to the lack of opportunities for their loved ones by creating a business to provide them a job. Findings from this study revealed that familial entrepreneurship is a hybrid-type of employment that has similar characteristics to traditional pathways of employment, but is distinct. It offers a post-secondary option in an environment where individuals with developmental disabilities can develop work skills, have social relationships, interact with members of the community, and in some situations, earn income. The businesses also provide training programs, settings for evaluations and assessments, and become vendors of government-supported employment programs, expanding their impact from the person they are designed to support, to the broader community. Employees and participants at the businesses experience an improvement in quality of life, access to a supportive community, and belonging. For the familial entrepreneurs, the study found that they encounter an immense learning curve in the areas of industry knowledge; business practice; supervising, employing and training individuals with developmental disabilities; and how to gather resources and support. This study also revealed that more clarity is needed to determine if this pathway can provide long-term sustainable employment outcomes.
Identifier: FA00013252 (IID)
Degree granted: Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Developmentally disabled--Employment
Phenomenology--Research
Family business
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013252
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.