Individuals' Perceptions of Employment Accommodation Decisions and Solutions: Lessons for Social Workers

Abstract

Disability rights advocates in social work have claimed that employment opportunities for people with disabilities are an important part of personal empowerment and social inclusion. Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act is aimed at ensuring meaningful employment opportunities are available. Hahn and Raske (2005) state that social work needs to develop a research paradigm that values the inclusion of people with disabilities. This article examines these efforts by incorporating the voices of individuals with disabilities who accessed services at the Job Accommodation Network. Understanding individuals’ perspectives could contribute to better accommodation outcomes for people with disabilities, employers, and advocacy professionals alike.

KEYWORDS:

• employment accommodations for people with disabilities
• evaluation and disabilities
• geographic information systems (GIS) and social work
• policy practice
• social work practice and disabilities