One of the most overlooked segments of the U.S. population that wishes to work are people with disabilities. But a new survey from the Kessler Foundation is about to change all that. And, through flexible work, employers can hire people with disabilities.
Many disabled Americans want to work, but are facing some serious barriers to finding—and keeping—a job, according to the Associated Press story “Survey: Most Americans with Disabilities ‘Striving to Work.” According to the more than 3,000 people who responded to the Kessler Foundation survey, nearly 43 percent were currently working, while around 9 percent were looking for work. Research culled from the survey found that a large percentage of disabled Americans wanted to be an active part of the workforce.
Photo Credit: Kessler Foundation
Among some of the obstacles facing disabled job seekers from gaining employment included a lack of training, employers who incorrectly assumed the applicants were not able to perform the duties of the job, and a lack of transportation to get into work. These gaps in employment opportunities make finding quality work a problem for those with disabilities. But, flexible work can change that!
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Kessler Foundation President Rodger DeRose pointed out that as baby boomers leave the workforce, there will be a gap that can be filled by the disabled community. “People with disabilities are going to be a population that will finally be recognized as a workforce that can make the transition into the workplace and be successful in overcoming barriers,” he said in a statement. “This workforce—the disability community—and business have not made the connection yet.”
Ultimately, it will be up to both the government and companies to help bridge the gap and make the necessary concessions to help make people with disabilities a vital part of the U.S. workforce. And already, the situation is getting better. For example, of those who cited transportation issues as a problem in getting into work, 42 percent surveyed said that they were able to overcome the obstacle. While the survey doesn’t specifically state how they solved travel issues, one of the most likely ways this was achieved was by employers offering flexible work as a way to hire people with disabilities.
Savvy employers who want to harness the potential of Americans with disabilities can create flexible work programs within their organizations. For example, reviewing various positions in the company can turn an office job into a work-from-home job, which can be ideal for a disabled worker who might have trouble getting into an office. Part-time positions and job sharing can help those who have numerous doctors’ appointments they need to go to. And having a flexible schedule ensures that a worker can complete his tasks on time but still have the much-needed flexibility to take care of his health and personal needs.
Readers, what do you think of the results of the study? Does this encourage you to implement flexible work policies in order to create a more diversified workforce and hire people with disabilities? Let us know in the comments.
Photo credit: istockphoto.com
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