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There is an increasing need for employees who can
complete basic or routine grounds maintenance tasks allowing more skilled
employees to focus on other work. Individuals with mental disabilities (IMD) can
develop the required skills and obtain meaningful employment. Preliminary
studies in Virginia indicate that employment of enclaves, or groups of
individuals, contracted from a rehabilitation workshop provides optimum job
satisfaction and long-term, stable employment as compared to the employment of
IMD not in enclaves. This study expands the data to cover grounds department
employment practices at 250 universities nation wide and tests the findings of
the preliminary studies while providing insight into regional differences. The
information will be of value to the horticulture industry in satisfying an
identified need for employees.
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