Having a job does more than provide a paycheck. Employment helps people develop useful skills, gain social connections and establish independence. These benefits can help anyone; for people with disabilities who are trying to live a well-rounded life, they can make a significant difference. The unfortunate truth is that there are many barriers to employment for people with disabilities. Those hurdles are often out of their control — or overlooked until an interview starts.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about the common barriers that a person with disabilities may face when trying to get a job. Then we’ll dive into how Ability KC employment services can help break down those roadblocks.
5 possible barriers to employment for persons with disabilities
Approximately 8.8% of people of working age with a disability in the U.S. are not employed. That’s more than double the amount of unemployment for people without a disability. There are many factors that can play into that statistic. Here are five commonly faced barriers that may contribute to it:
- Symptoms of the disability itself — A disability can cause physical, mental and behavioral challenges that can interfere with a person’s ability to complete job responsibilities. The symptoms of many disabilities can make it difficult to complete common tasks. This can include anything from lifting equipment to communicating with customers. The limitations of a disability that are out of the person’s control can make it challenging to find a job that fits with their abilities.
- Lack of transportation — A job can’t be done if the person isn’t able to get to work due to physical symptoms of a disability. Mobility issues are common for many people with disabilities. These issues can include amputation, spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy. A lack of transportation for these types of disabilities, especially those disabilities that require a wheelchair, means that a person may not be able to get to the job site. Wheelchair-accessible cars, vans and public transportation may not always be available or affordable.
- Lack of workplace accessibility — Accessibility issues can hinder a person with disabilities from safely doing a job. There can be physical barriers, such as a lack of ramps and inaccessible bathrooms. Since technology plays a large role in many jobs, there may be a lack of assistive technology. Some jobs may use websites that aren’t compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. There may not be the right communication options, such as largeprint manuals.
- Required special adjustments — With the right accommodations, people with disabilities can complete many tasks. However, not every workplace is willing to do what it takes to help a person with disabilities be the best worker possible. Many employers aren’t knowledgeable about the modifications available for people with disabilities. Some do not provide special training or adjustments that can help the employee.
- Prejudiced attitude from others — There are antidiscrimination laws in place for people with disabilities seeking employment. However, there may still be negative attitudes toward disabilities by employers. If an employer believes stereotypes about what people with disabilities are or are not capable of doing, they may not give the person a chance. If the other employees don’t give support or respect to the person with a disability, the person won’t have a positive experience and may end up leaving.
Ability KC has employment programs for persons with disabilities to overcome barriers
We understand that it may be discouraging to see the employment barriers for people with disabilities, and we’re here to provide hope and support. At Ability KC, we provide employment and community independence programs for people with disabilities, serious injuries or medical conditions. We can help them reach their fullest potential by providing employment opportunities and skill development that help them to gain independence.
Our programs aim to help people reach their career goals through:
- Vocational rehabilitation by working with the Missouri and Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation Offices
- Return-to-Work Navigators for medical rehabilitation post-care services to prepare for work
- Assistive technology education that will help with work tasks
- Employment at local companies to complete production tasks through Ability KC Industries
Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF). We also have a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.