Affiliations: Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, Inc., 2021 N. Old Manor, Wichita, KS 67208, USA
Abstract: The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was hailed as a milestone event that insured persons with disabilities can achieve gainful employment. Although recognized as a momentous piece of civil rights legislation, it has, unfortunately, not fulfilled the promise of providing a significant number of jobs for persons with disabilities. This paper examines the complexities inherent in the process of placing persons with disabilities into productive employment through the usage of assistive technology. Simply stating that individuals with disabilities can be cost effective members of the American work force does not necessarily make it so. A cohesive team of persons with disabilities, their significant others, rehabilitation technologists, rehabilitation engineers, physical therapists, social workers, etc. is necessary to open doors for persons with developmental disabilities as they seek to gain their rightful place in American business and industry. This paper examines, from a pragmatic point of view, elements to be considered by persons with disabilities as they take advantage of the Americans with Disabilities Act from both the spirit and the letter of the law.
Keywords: Severe disabilities, Productive employment, Assistive technology, Special education, Job accommodation
