Employer Perspectives on Disability Inclusion

Fewer than one in five people with a disability receive accommodations in the workplace, and many people with disabilities are unprepared to disclose their disability or negotiate accommodations. To better understand employer accommodation practices with youth with disabilities and how companies create inclusive environments, researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 18 employers who hire young people with disabilities. This research provides recommendations for vocational rehabilitation professionals to better serve jobseekers with disabilities and potential employers.

• Most employers interviewed had strategies in place to encourage youth to disclose their disabilities and request accommodations.
• Employers tended to be more accommodating to people with physical or visible disabilities than to people with psychological disabilities.
• Employers with inclusive environments described trust, rapport, and open communication with employees.
• Employers were more likely to provide disability accommodations if they were:
  • knowledgeable or informed about disability legislation.
  • experienced in working with people with disabilities.
  • positive about hiring people with disabilities.

Topics discussed during the in-depth interviews included current practices for enabling disclosure and workplace accommodations for youth with disabilities, whether and how employers create an inclusive environment, and how employers attract and retain youth with disabilities.