Because I work: A qualitative study on what people with disabilities get from work besides a paycheck

The 2006 American Community Survey indicated that only 35% of people with disabilities work as opposed to 74% of the general population (Smith, F.A., & Clark, D.M. 2007). As an advocate in the Independent Living movement, I have noticed people with disabilities who overturned various barriers to go to work and wondered what motivated them to do so. We conducted a phenomenological qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 21 employed persons with disabilities in California, Colorado, Montana and Utah. Key questions were: “What do you get out of work besides a paycheck?” “What strategies did you use to go to or get back to work?”

Seven themes were richly developed. Most were substantiated by a review of the literature. Participants indicated that because they work 1) they could support themselves and a family, 2) were socially connected to their communities, 3) experienced satisfaction in their lives, 4) their mental and physical health improved, 5) they role modeled for others, 6) they were empowered and 7) they eloquently described self-actualization: a) what others said about them, b) what they learned about themselves and c) how they changed because of work.

Sixteen participants described what got them to work or back to work. Strategies included family role models and expectations, seeing other people with disabilities working, disability agencies' assistance, social networks and volunteering. This research has been translated into a consumer friendly document for distribution and the authors call for ways to show people with a variety of disabilities working.