Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Higher & Adult Education

Committee Chair

Edith Gnanadass

Committee Chair

Lilian Hill

Committee Member

Alison Happel-Parkins

Committee Member

Diana Delgado

Abstract

This study's purpose was to describe and evaluate the Canteen & Trading Post’s (CTP’s) approach to workforce education for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (AIDD) and CTP participants’ perceptions of AIDD’s employability in their rural community. A qualitative study method was used, including semi-structured interviews, arts-based research, and participant-observation. The guiding research questions for the study were: 1. How is the Canteen & Trading Post helping adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities meet their vocational goals?, 2. How are AIDD's needs for accommodation changing through their experiences at the CTP?, and 3. How is the CTP demonstrating AIDD’s employability to their rural community? Fifteen people participated in the study, including five AIDD, two AIDD parents, one teacher, one cook, one director, two founders, one volunteer, and two donors. The CTP is helping AIDD meet their vocational goals through its intake process, learning environment, instructional methods, and results. Though some changes in accommodation needs were noticed, the AIDD did not appear to be going from needing accommodations to not needing them, but from needing some to needing others, as time passed. The CTP is demonstrating AIDD’s employability to their rural community by inviting the community to witness the AIDD working. The themes in this study are: 1. AIDD vocational education at the CTP depends on God’s economy for sustainability causing stress on leaders. 2. AIDD thrive through appropriate accommodation at the CTP because their parents love them enough to bring them there. 3. The education of the community is a positive result of the CTP, confirming claims of divine inspiration, as measured by Biblical concepts.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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