Lessons from Research on Employer Attitudes & Strategies of Successful Employees with Disabilities

A comparison of two research studies on employment of people with disabilities indicates the different views of employers and successful employees with disabilities. This presentation moves research to practice.

Two different kinds of research were conducted with two distinct groups. The first project surveyed employers regarding their attitudes about hiring and retaining people with disabilities. The second project collected strategies of successfully, competitively employed people with disabilities which focused on getting hired and succeeding at work.

The fears and concerns of employers that keep them from hiring, accommodating, and retaining people with disabilities are summarized. More than 80% of managers & HR staff at ADA-resistant employers state issues of: ignorance and sense of burden; concern over costs; and fear of legal liability.

This presentation also presents strategies of successful people with disabilities that proactively address the common employer fears and concerns. We found not all concerns can be addressed at the individual level by employees; some require systems change.

Successful employees educate themselves about accommodations to meet their own needs. They proactively research accommodation solutions. They reduce the employer's burden by engaging outside resources. A positive result includes employers not having to be disability experts. Successful employees with disabilities identify and request pragmatic solutions.

Separate studies of employer attitudes and strategies of successful employees with Disabilities found that: Successfully employed people with disabilities demonstrate techniques and attitudes that help allay common employer fears; are aware and proactively address employer worries; and service providers can assist by proactively communicating with employers.