Review article
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN HORTICULTURE – PREFERENCES FOR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Sanja Morić
Marko Marinić
orcid.org/0000-0002-9683-7571
Abstract
This paper is about motivation of persons with disabilities (PWDs)
for horticultural activities and training in order to improve their
employment opportunities in an open labour market. A quantitative
survey about PWDs´ willingness for employment in horticulture
sector was conducted among the users of the compensation to
employment in Zagreb (Croatia). The convenient sample consisted
of 236 respondents. Apart from sociodemographic variables, the
respondents were asked about their educational background, additional
skills and knowledge for employment, health indicators,
well-being perception and horticultural preferences. The majority
of the respondents loved plants (88%) and staying in the nature
(93%). One third of the respondents were interested in ornamental
horticulture education. The preferable profession, chosen
among 12 sectors of different professions, was gardening, in 38%
respondents. The research indicated that education and practicing of horticulture have significant potential in raising the quality of life of
PWDs in various ways – as an excellent area for employment,
reducing the PWDs’ high unemployment rate, and as an activity
with significant benefits to their personal development, rehabilitation,
and, in raising the level of their life satisfaction.
Keywords
persons with disabilities; inclusion, open labour market; economic independence; horticulture industry; quality of life; horticultural therapy
Hrčak ID:
206156
URI
Publication date:
27.12.2017.
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