HORTICULTURE AND GARDENING AS A WAY TO PROMOTE OCCUPATIONAL JUSTICE

Employment is one of the most determinant factors for social inclusion. People with learning disabilities may face several constraints within the participation in professional activities. Nowadays, we have been assisting to an... [ view full abstract ]

Employment is one of the most determinant factors for social inclusion. People with learning disabilities may face several constraints within the participation in professional activities. Nowadays, we have been assisting to an increasing awareness about this issue. In Portugal, it has been developed a national strategy to promote and support the employment of that population. CERCICA is a Portuguese institution, which has been promoting the participation of people with learning disabilities within the community, through the cultivation of plants to be sold.
This paper aims to study a sample of these clients, which participate in horticulture activities, in order to understand how they experience those activities, investigating their motivation, as well as the perception of a patients monitor.
For this study, it was applied a questionnaire to each one of the clients, on their perception about the feelings of value, enjoyment and competence, when participating in those activities, as well as to the monitor about the clients´ performance. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inductive statistics.
The results showed significant differences between the perceptions of the monitor and the clients, as well as significant correlations between competence, value and enjoyment.
To conclude, the horticulture activities arouse feelings of satisfaction, self-esteem, personal value and pride in their own abilities, having a positive impact on the well-being of people with learning disabilities.
This knowledge about how meaningful horticulture activities are for those clients, can give more information whether they are adequate and foster their skills, and how they promote occupational justice.