Women with disabilities making the transition back to work: Psychosocial barriers and interventions

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cheryl A. Reed,

Affiliations: Department of Rehabilitation Education and Research, University of Arkansas, P.O. Box 252, 381 Jay Avenue, Goshen, AR 72735, USA. Tel.: +1 501 582 4229

Abstract: The economic impact of disability on employment, earnings, and education appears to be more devastating for women than for men. Women with disabilities who are making the transition either back into the workforce or into the workforce for the first time often face barriers that are unique to this population. Many researchers have described women with disabilities as having a ``double disadvantage'' that results in social and psychological barriers to their transition back to work. The purpose of this article is to help vocational and career development programs better address the psychosocial needs of women with disabilities by (a) describing key psychosocial barriers faced by women with disabilities in their transition back to work and (b) providing career development strategies designed to ease this transition process for women with disabilities and enhance their employment outcomes.

Keywords: women with disabilities, career development, vocational rehabilitation

Journal: Work, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 67-72, 1999