Effective Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Workplace Study Report - 2021

The study aimed to better understand the underrepresentation of youth with disabilities in wage employment, barriers to the inclusion of youth with disabilities in the workplace, and how successful employers have modeled disability inclusion in the workplace. The study found that negative perceptions by employers and society at large toward youth with disabilities were a major challenge to disability inclusion in the workplace. Many employers doubted the capabilities and productivity of youth with disabilities, and colleagues often expressed negative attitudes towards them. However, some employers who had previous experience with employees with disabilities expressed satisfaction with their performance and agreed that youth with disabilities have the same competencies as those without disabilities. The study identified various barriers to the successful inclusion of youth with disabilities in the workplace, including unfavorable labor market conditions, limited access to education and training, inaccessibility in the built environment, attitudinal and social barriers, and personal/internal barriers. The study also found that many youth with disabilities face workplace barriers, including lack of adequate workplace accommodations, lack of communication, and lack of disability awareness by employers. The study highlighted opportunities to learn from companies that have successfully modeled disability inclusion in the workplace. Successful employers provided adequate infrastructure and transportation, used transportation stipends to address barriers, and made renovations to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities. These low-cost policies and actions can help make a workplace disability-friendly.