Integration of people with disabilities: involving stakeholders in the planification of an activity supported program

Today, in France, many people with a limiting health disorder have difficulties to be employed. The scientific research in the field of employability recommends taking actions at the individual, organizational and government levels to support the access and return to work of these individuals. Although, actions taken to support this cause do not often follow this recommendation. In addition, being employed is not always considered as a previous condition for recovery. However, the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) approach – focused precisely on this aspect – has proven its worth among this population. Our goal is to develop an innovative support program for people who experience a limiting health disorder, which is inspired by the recommendations in the research field of employability as well as the IPS approach. We want to act in particular on employability through individual, organizational and governmental levels and by promoting recovery through a rapid access to a professional activity. This paper describes the action research protocol which is preliminary to the creation of our program and its tools. Following the methods of program planning in the field of health and disability, the protocol includes a phase with a needs analysis based on a systematic review in the area of return to activity and a qualitative survey through interviews with the concerned actors. We will then present the way in which the design and implementation phases of the program and its tools are expected (for example, consultation from the design to the implementation phases with a strategic committee whose members are different stakeholders in the support process). The support is thus considered in a global and a systemic way, taking into account the role of the environment and the different involved actors in the support process. This is in order to propose efficient interventions in line with the needs of our population of interest.