Abstract: This article provides data from the National EEOC ADA Research
Project comparing several aspects of employment discrimination experienced by
individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to that of a group of individuals
with other physical, sensory or neurological impairments (GENDIS). Compared
with GENDIS, the SCI group was younger with more males and fewer minorities.
The SCI group had a significantly higher proportion of resolved complaints
involving Hiring, Promotion and Reinstatement and a lower proportion of issues
involving Discharge, Reasonable Accommodation, Harassment, Discipline and
Intimidation. Allegations of discrimination against people with SCI occurred
more often in the Services and Public Administration industries, more often
among small employers, and more often among employers located in the South.
EEOC findings of "No Cause" in which full investigation fails to support the
alleged violation are significantly less common in SCI than in GENDIS. SCI
employers were more likely to accept those remedies proposed by the EEOC.
Implications and recommendations regarding these findings are provided.
