Natural supports in competitive integrated employment: A scoping review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Competitive integrated employment (CIE) improves the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Individuals with IDD may need additional support in the workplace. Natural supports has been studied as an intervention to provide support and increase vocational and social skills for individuals with IDD in the workplace. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the existing literature conducted on implementing natural supports in CIE settings to build vocational or social skills for individuals with IDD. METHOD: We followed the PRISMA-ScR process to identify articles across seven databases and coded information related to demographics, methodology, and outcomes. RESULTS: Seventeen articles were identified between 1985 –2024 that focused on implementing natural supports in CIE settings for individuals with IDD. Studies addressed vocational and social skills and broader vocational topics such as wages, hours worked, and inclusion in the workplace. CONCLUSION: Employees with IDD improved their engagement in vocational tasks, increased their social interactions with coworkers, and improved their quality of life through increased wages, hours worked, and job tenure. Additional research is warranted to provide further evidence on the impact of natural supports in the workplace for employees with and without IDD.