Job discrimination
Despite the passing of the law of American with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was aimed to reduce discrimination at the workplace against the disabled, people with disabilities are still generally avoided during the hiring process due to negative perceptions that they will create more work for the supervisors and the lack of internal and external hiring support.
In a short-term study performed by the Kessler Foundation and the National Organization on Disabilities concluded that only 59 percent of 1,800 working-age participants with no obvious functional impairments were working full- or part-time, which was more than twice of the 21 percent of similarly situated disabled workers. Of the unemployed disabled people, 73 percent find that their disabilities correlates to their unemployment as many business are reluctant to hire them for fear of costly accomodations such as installing ramps and redesigning the office to offer more room for maneuvering and getting into discrimination-related lawsuits.
Watch to find out more on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Despite the passing of the law of American with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was aimed to reduce discrimination at the workplace against the disabled, people with disabilities are still generally avoided during the hiring process due to negative perceptions that they will create more work for the supervisors and the lack of internal and external hiring support.
In a short-term study performed by the Kessler Foundation and the National Organization on Disabilities concluded that only 59 percent of 1,800 working-age participants with no obvious functional impairments were working full- or part-time, which was more than twice of the 21 percent of similarly situated disabled workers. Of the unemployed disabled people, 73 percent find that their disabilities correlates to their unemployment as many business are reluctant to hire them for fear of costly accomodations such as installing ramps and redesigning the office to offer more room for maneuvering and getting into discrimination-related lawsuits.
Watch to find out more on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Increased likelihood of poverty
With the current high unemployment rates for the disabled, there is an increased likelihood of poverty for them, especially when their disabilities require them to pay more for quality healthcare. 29.2% of about 20 million individuals with disabilities aged 18 to 64 years live in poverty, as compared to 13.6% among individuals without disabilities. The poverty rate among people with disabilities is the highest in the District of Columbia, at 38.4%, and lowest in Alaska, at 16.7%, which is still higher than the rate for those without. The poverty gap between individuals with and without disabilities increased from 15.0% in 2011 to 15.7% in 2012.
Individuals with work disabilities aged 16 to 64 years make up 11.3% of that age group, and 25.3% of the poor population within the same age group. The poverty rate of those with severe work disabilities is at 34.9%, compared to 16.7% of those with less severe disabilities and 11.6% of those with none. (Annual Disabilities Statistics Compendium, 2013)
With the current high unemployment rates for the disabled, there is an increased likelihood of poverty for them, especially when their disabilities require them to pay more for quality healthcare. 29.2% of about 20 million individuals with disabilities aged 18 to 64 years live in poverty, as compared to 13.6% among individuals without disabilities. The poverty rate among people with disabilities is the highest in the District of Columbia, at 38.4%, and lowest in Alaska, at 16.7%, which is still higher than the rate for those without. The poverty gap between individuals with and without disabilities increased from 15.0% in 2011 to 15.7% in 2012.
Individuals with work disabilities aged 16 to 64 years make up 11.3% of that age group, and 25.3% of the poor population within the same age group. The poverty rate of those with severe work disabilities is at 34.9%, compared to 16.7% of those with less severe disabilities and 11.6% of those with none. (Annual Disabilities Statistics Compendium, 2013)