Retirement from mainstream employment : older workers with intellectual disabilities and their plans for life after work

![CDATA[Aim: It’s been nearly 30 years since Disability Employment Services (DES) were introduced in Australia to support people with intellectual disabilities (ID) to gain and sustain jobs in the mainstream workforce. Many of the pioneer workers with ID who entered employment as young adults are now retiring or heading toward retirement. This study explores the perceptions of retirement of these workers, their aspirations for life after work and what retirement planning they have undertaken. Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were undertaken with 14 people with ID aged over 40. Participants include those currently working in the mainstream workforce with support from a DES, and those who have recently retired. Results: Difficulty with transport to community based retirement activities and lack of information on available options were barriers for many participants. Some participants expressed clear ideas on activities they would like to pursue in retirement but did not appear to have, within their existing formal and informal networks, the resources or support required for them to engage in these activities, particularly in relation to desired volunteering roles. Conclusion: These results will be utilised in developing a person-centred pilot program to support older workers with ID as they transition from mainstream employment into retirement.]]