APPLYING THE PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH MODEL TO THE STUDY OF SOCIAL INCLUSION AT WORKSITES

The present study demonstrates how a research project discovered the i mportance of the participatory action research process by applying it to the task of working out effective methods for the social inclusion of workers with moderate cognitive delays who are in school transition work experience programs. It outlines the framework of the participat ory action research process, including the strategies used to obtain i nput from a variety of constituent group members. Work group meeting p rocedures, which were modified from focus group meetings, in particula r, are described in detail. The participatory intervention process see med to assist teachers and job coaches in making constructive changes in their transition work experience programs to provide social opportu nities for their students and help them become ''part of the team'' at their worksites. Methods needed to sustain this intervention over tim e and other contributing factors are examined.