Adults with developmental disabilities are significantly un- and under-employed. Little is known about the relationship between visibility of a disability and employment.
OBJECTIVE:
To explore how visibility of a disability influences employment for adults with developmental disabilities.
METHODS:
In-depth interviews were done with caregivers, adults with developmental disabilities, and employment support professionals. Content related to visibility/invisibility of disability was thematically analyzed.
RESULTS:
Three main themes, with 10 sub-themes, emerged: (i) Dispelling Myths: Assumptions Related to Disability; (ii) Rock and a Hard Place: Disclosing ‘Invisible’ Disability; (iii) Finders-Keepers: Easier to find, but not keep, a job with invisible disability.
CONCLUSIONS:
Assumptions about disability underpinned employment-related challenges experienced by adults with developmental disabilities. Our findings highlight the need for employment initiatives that go beyond skill-based training to target social barriers of employment, such as stigma and lack of disability knowledge.
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