Company Characteristics, Disability Inclusion Practices, and Employment of People with Disabilities in the Post COVID-19
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Company Characteristics, Disability Inclusion Practices, and Employment of People with Disabilities in the Post COVID‑19 Job Economy: A Cross Sectional Survey Study Fong Chan1 · Timothy N. Tansey1 · Kanako Iwanaga2 · Jill Bezyak3 · Paul Wehman4 · Brian N. Phillips5 · David R. Strauser6 · Catherine Anderson7 Accepted: 23 October 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose In the post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recession economy, rehabilitation counselors, transition specialists, and other disability service providers must redouble their efforts to connect with employers to create employment opportunities for people with physical and mental impairments. The purpose of the present study was to investigate company characteristics and effective disability inclusion practices that are related to employment of people with disabilities. Methods Four hundred sixty-six employers completed a demographic questionnaire and the Disability Inclusion Profiler. Results Results indicated company characteristics and disability practices were positively related to employment of people with disabilities. Conclusions Findings of the present study can be used by transition specialists, rehabilitation counselors, and other disability service providers to engage and connect with employers to increase employment opportunity for people with disabilities in the post COVID-19 economy. Future research and practice implications are provided. Keywords Diversity · Inclusion · Disability · Employment · Vocational rehabilitation · Recession · COVID-19
Introduction * Kanako Iwanaga [email protected] 1
Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
2
Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, College of Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University, 900 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23298‑0330, USA
3
Department of Rehabilitation Counseling and Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, USA
4
Virginia Commonwealth University‑ Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA
5
Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling, College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University, Logan, USA
6
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA
7
Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Stout, USA
Gainful employment has many known financial, psychological, social, and health benefits [1–5]. Suitable employment enables working-age adults to provide for themselves, access health care, connect with people, and contribute as a productive member of society [1]. Work identity (the meaning of people’s jobs and its relationship to their sense of being) is a predominant part of people’s self-identity and a requisite component of living a meaningful and fulfilled life [6]. Research has indicated that persons who are gainfully employed have better
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