Kessler Foundation

This paper examines the success of grants given to initiatives that address the employment gap between people with and without disabilities. Independent evaluations identified five elements which were common to successful projects, namely, 1) A focus on changing attitudes about people with disabilities and their ability to work, 2) A person-centered approach to employment, 3) Technological platforms or model documentation, 4) Strong community partnerships, and 5) Wraparound services.

This survey explored the workplace experiences of supervisors, who are uniquely positioned to assess the processes and practices used by American employers to recruit and hire employees with and without disabilities. Results show that supervisors are striving to recruit, hire, train, and retain people with disabilities in their organizations. The survey identifies effective processes and practices that employers use to employ people with disabilities.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability published this month's National Trends on Disability Employment report (nTIDE). Each month this report is published to mark the changes of employment for people with disabilities. Labor statistics indicate that very few people with disabilities are working for the third month in a row. Meanwhile employment rates remain steady for people without disabilities.

This survey was administered to 3,000 people with disabilities who answered questions about their experiences in the workplace−the challenges they faced, as well as their successes. The key findings show that Americans with disabilities are striving to work and overcoming barriers in the job search and the workplace.