Affiliations: Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources, and Communication Disorders, College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA | Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Allied Health Professions, Richmond, VA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Richard T. Roessler, University Professor Emeritus, RHRC Department, College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. Tel.: +1 479 575 6414; E-mail: rroessl@uark.edu
Abstract: Data available in the Integrated Mission System (IMS) maintained by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) were analyzed with respect to comparisons in the employment discrimination experiences of youth with epilepsy (N = 555) and youth in a general disability comparison group (i.e., GENDIS; N = 12,663). Both groups of youth were employed in industries associated with entry level positions such as retail trades, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food services, and the majority of allegations for both groups pertained to post-hire issues, e.g., unlawful discharge and failure to provide reasonable accommodations. Youth with epilepsy were more likely to file allegations regarding unlawful discharge and were more likely to receive a merit rating of their allegations from the EEOC. Findings suggest a connection between poverty and likelihood of a diagnosis of epilepsy, the need to target certain industries for disability awareness training, the relationship between a seizure at work and termination for disability rather than cause, and the importance of worksite interventions addressing identification of barriers to productivity and accommodation planning.
