A Scoping Review on Internship Programs and Employment Outcomes for Youth and Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Transition policy in the United States has endorsed work-based learning experiences, including internships, for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) order to combat poor rates of post-school employment. Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plans have reported use internships as a way provide Pre-Employment Services (Pre-ETS). Internships are complex programs that vary terms length, payment, funding, collaborative partnerships, intended an educational experience develop vocational skills. The purpose this scoping review was examine impact internship participation on employment youth young adults (aged 16 late 20s) IDD. Systematic searches electronic databases containing peer-reviewed sources were conducted. Nineteen articles included final sample. Findings identified specific been examined within literature base, level evidence each provides concerning outcomes, pertinent characteristics observed across studies. Implications future research practice discussed.