Identifying the employment and vocational rehabilitation concerns of people with traditional and emerging disabilities

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted a) to examine the concerns of people with disabilities regarding their participation in independent living and in society and b) to explore whether people from "emerging" disability groups and those from "traditional" disability groups prioritize issues related to these concerns similarly.

Study design: National survey using the "Concerns Report Method for Citizens with Disabilities" (CRM), an agenda-setting instrument, which involves people with disabilities in the research process. The CRM was administered to a national sample of people with a variety of disabilities.

Results: Survey items related to employment and vocational rehabilitation are typically rated as "problems" by the entire group of respondents as well as by respondents from specific disability groups. One employment-related item pertaining to adequate salary and benefits emerged as one of the top three issues selected by the entire group and by respondents in specific disability groups.

Conclusion(s): Despite progress in many areas of disability policy and quality of life, people with a variety of disabilities remained concerned about employment and vocational rehabilitation issues. The chronically high national unemployment rate of people with disabilities highlights the need for increased attention to programs and policies to address this need.