This work was supported by a grant from Shalem Fund
The purpose of the present study is to check the contribution of academic education and professional training in acquiring the relevant knowledge needed for work in IDD out-of-home housing frameworks in terms of professional knowledge and the subjective perception of person-oriented services.
In the present study, data collection and analysis were done using mixed methods- quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative study included 117 lead staff members working in out-of-home housing settings in the IDD field throughout the country. In the qualitative part of the study 18 subjects involved in academic programs and professional training of MSH professionals were interviewed.
It was found that the perception of the contribution of professional training to professional knowledge is significantly higher, compared to the perception of the contribution of academic education to a person’s professional knowledge and compared to the perception of the contribution of person-oriented services.
Keyword: intellectual development disabilities, staff training, academic education, person-oriented services, quality of life.