Vocational training for livelihood and rehabilitation of persons with intellectual disabilities

Purpose Rehabilitation facilities available for persons with intellectual disabilities are low in India. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an action research programme undertaken in Thrissur district, Kerala, India, to provide institution-based vocational training to selected beneficiaries of BUDS rehabilitation institutions. Design/methodology/approach A total of 40 students were selected for the training programme. Different vocational activities were included according to criteria such as the abilities of students, sustainability and therapeutic value. Findings The results of data analysis showed that fraternity, engagement and collectivism were the themes that emerged from the conversations with students, teachers and parents. Some students showed marked improvements in various areas of functioning. Research limitations/implications Larger replication studies could provide more evidence for wider implementation. Practical implications There is a possibility of scaling up the model at the state or national level. Social implications This model could be adopted for providing better services to persons with intellectual disabilities in similar low- and middle-income settings. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first known attempt at examining the utility of vocational activity training as therapeutic intervention for persons with intellectual disabilities in India.