Current practices influencing school-to-work transition for learners with mild intellectual disability : a scoping review

Abstract

Transitions are significant turning points in young people’s lives as they enter adulthood. However, for learners with an intellectual disability (ID), this transition comes with effort. To identify and clarify current practices that influence school-to-work transition for learners with mild ID, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) were followed in conducting this scoping review. A 5-step process was followed: the research question was identified; related studies were identified through an electronic grey literature search and databases; studies were selected; the data were charted; and lastly the findings were organised, summarised and reported on. Thirty-one (n = 31) articles published between 2009 and 2021 were included in this review. The current practices associated with school-to-work transition were learnerships or internships, vocational training, transition planning, collaboration effort, independent living skills training, family involvement, self-determination, social skills training, career counselling, and employers’ involvement. School-to-work transition for learners with mild ID is a complex, multifaceted process. These practices are necessary to support effective transition across life stages.