Models of professional development in people with intellectual disabilities. State of the art

Data from the World Health Organization indicate that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities can reach 80% in some countries. In Western societies, em-ployment for people with physical or sen-sory disabilities is settled through inclusive practices in ordinary settings, according to the interests of the person. In the case of people with intellectual and developmen-tal disabilities, it is frequently developed through segregating and not very emanci-patory practices, which severely restricts professional development options. This article develops the state of the art regar- ding research on the professional deve- lopment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The different studies are classified according to the six main models of professional development, where trends and main contributions are observed. Results show a low number of investigations, with a predominance of the sociocognitive approach, which is focused on self-efficacy. The conclusion highlights the need to investigate from an emancipatory perspective, which con- tributes to overcoming the barriers and promotes practices that advance towards social justice and equity for people with intellectual disabilities.