Work Ability and PAR: A guide for implementing full participation in complex systems change initiatives

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.