Demand-side Experiences of Employers Who Work with Individuals with Disabilities

Abstract

Employment fosters social and emotional development in addition to providing greater financial independence. This action research study aimed to address a problem of practice for a semi-rural district in Southwest Washington State to improve transition programming for students receiving special education services. In rural and semi-rural areas, young adults who have been entitled to accommodations and modifications while attending public schools find themselves seeking employment in their communities, where businesses are likely to be exempt from the comprehensive protection provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Employers’ attitudes contribute to employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities As an exploratory study, the attitudes and perspectives of rural small business owners regarding the employment of individuals with disabilities were examined utilizing Grounded Theory, the Constant Comparative Method, and the Gioia Method. The qualitative data collected and analyzed in this study suggests that factors impacting the attitudes of employers in hiring individuals with disabilities includes both supervisory knowledge, expertise, and experience as well as company attributes and opportunities. The data in this study also suggest that programmatic approaches that impact the attitudes of employers in hiring individuals with disabilities include: fostering of beliefs about the employability of individuals with disabilities; an internship experience that demonstrates the value the individual brings to the business; program staff who provide information, strategies, and resources to prepare employers to hire the intern upon completion of an unpaid internship; and temporary support for the employee with disabilities during the initial training process. Results of this study impacts the problem of practice for the semi-rural district in Southwest Washington State, adding to the body of knowledge in demand-side factors of employment for individuals with disabilities for this community.