The voice of persons with intellectual disability: Why does autonomy support make them feel better?

Our study focused on the role of inclusive environments characterized by the support that supervisors provide to individuals with intellectual disability working in sheltered workshops. We propose that autonomy support is positively related to the satisfaction of individuals with intellectual disability with their autonomy in this organizational context. Satisfaction, in turn, is expected to be positively related to well-being. A total of 394 individuals with intellectual disability working in 59 sheltered workshops located in Spain participated in the study. The research team used a pictorial questionnaire designed in cooperation with experts on measures for individuals with intellectual disability and tested in a pilot study. Using a cross-lagged design, participants answered the questionnaire by reporting how much support they received from non-disabled supervisors, their satisfaction with their level of autonomy, and their general well-being (T1). Four weeks after T1, they reported their satisfaction (T2), and 8 weeks after T1, they reported their well-being (T3). Using structural equation modeling methods with robust maximum likelihood estimation via Mplus, our results confirmed the mediation of satisfaction, not only in T1 but also over time. This study contributes to the knowledge about how supportive organizational environments help individuals with intellectual disability.