The relationship between disability prejudice and disability employment rates

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Friedman, Carli

Affiliations: CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership, 100 West Road, Suite 300, Towson, MD, USA. Tel.: +1 206 385 5313; E-mail: cfriedman@thecouncil.org

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Despite the ability to and interest in work, people with disabilities are employed at significantly lower rates than nondisabled people. Employment disparities highlight persistent social and cultural stereotypes that equate disability with unemployability. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between employment of people with disabilities and disability prejudice in the United States. This study had the following research question: how does disability prejudice impact state disability employment rates? METHODS:To explore these questions, we used secondary data about state disability employment (2016), as well as disability prejudice data from 270,000 nondisabled people residing in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. RESULTS:Findings from this study revealed states with higher disability prejudice scores have lower disability employment rates, suggesting employment disparities are intertwined with disability prejudice. CONCLUSIONS:Cultures and systems must be rid of harmful disability stereotypes to ensure people with disabilities can truly partake in their human and civil rights.

Keywords: Employment discrimination, ableism, implicit prejudice, unemployment, disability

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203113

Journal: Work, vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 591-598, 2020