New Study Reveals Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities
A new study, 'Understanding Persons with Disabilities' Reasons for Not Seeking Employment', has been published in the Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. The research, funded by Kessler Foundation and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), sheds light on the barriers faced by people with disabilities in the job market.
The study, part of a series conducted by Kessler Foundation including surveys in 2015, 2017, and 2020, analyzed responses from 1,254 unemployed or not seeking employment adults with disabilities. Researchers identified nine reasons why people with disabilities may not express interest in employment. The most common were perceptions about medical conditions, functional limitations, or disability, and concerns about job security.
Other common reasons included health issues, household responsibilities, fear of losing disability benefits, and concerns about workplace culture and accessibility. The reasons varied across demographic and sociodemographic characteristics, indicating a complex interplay of personal and environmental factors.
The study, published on April 15, 2021, provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by people with disabilities in the employment sector. For more information, contact Carolann Murphy at 973.324.8382 or [email protected]. Understanding these barriers is the first step towards addressing them, and Kessler Foundation, a nonprofit focused on rehabilitation research and expanding employment opportunities, continues to lead the way in this area.
