Answered Questions is a monthly resource for the Spanish language Disability Community that fills an information need. This month’s question is: What is inclusive employment and what information is available to learn about different aspects of inclusive employment? This edition of Answered Questions includes items that define inclusive employment and discuss the effects of customized employment on transition-age youth with disabilities; employer engagement in disability employment; working women with disabilities counter stereotypes in the workplace; technology as a means to inclusion in the workplace; National Disability Employment Awareness Month; a guide for the promotion of inclusive employment; an information portal from the Mexican Ministry of Labor and Social Security; a campaign for disability employment; vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities, seniors, and employers; and the Job Accommodation Network. More about Answered Questions.
What is inclusive employment?
According to the Professional Fellow Program on Inclusive Disability Employment (English) at the US Department of State (English), inclusive employment (English) “refers to individuals with disabilities working alongside their peers without disabilities in the competitive labor market (with access to the same benefits and career opportunities). Inclusive employment ensures that no person is segregated or excluded from quality employment opportunities because of their disability.” It also makes sure that people with disabilities have access to the accommodations that they need to be successful in the workplace, and that employers and hiring managers have the information and resources they need to support all of their employees
NIDILRR-Funded Projects:
The project Effects of Customized Employment on the Employment Outcomes of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities: A Randomized Clinical Trial (90DP0085) (English) looks at the use of customized employment (CE), a flexible process designed to personalize the employment relationship between a job candidate and an employer in a way that meets the needs of both, as an intervention to help people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to achieve integrated employment outcomes. As part of this work, the project evaluates and compares the employment outcomes of people with ID/ASD who receive the CE intervention to those who receive “services as usual” and provides resources, such as articles and fact sheets, and training, such as webinars and courses.
From the NARIC Collection:
The article, Employer engagement in disability employment: A missing link for small to medium organizations – a review of the literature (J78934) (English), discusses a study that explored the gaps in disability employment research, policy, and strategies in relation to small to medium employers; and identified challenges and potential solutions for these employers. The researchers found that, although larger employers are contributing to the discussion of ways to increase employment of people with disabilities, small to medium employers are generally missing from the discussion. They also found that a reliance on a broad business case argument alone for employing people with disabilities is not enough to change the attitudes and organizational cultures that are at the base of the exclusion of people with disabilities from the labor force.
Research In Focus:
Working Women with Disabilities Share Strategies for Countering Stereotypes in the Workplace, an article from NARIC’s Research In Focus series, discusses a study from the NIDILRR-funded project Working It Out Together: Working Women with Disabilities and Employment (English) that asked working women with disabilities (WWD) to describe their experiences in disclosing disabilities and receiving accommodations at work. The authors noted that WWD may face unique challenges in the workplace due to the combination of negative stereotypes about women and about people with disabilities. They also noted that the study participants felt that disability antidiscrimination laws may not adequately protect WWD from discrimination. This article is also available in English.
Technology:
The article, Technology as an engine of labor inclusion (TICPymes), discusses how technology has helped to make employment accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. It also discusses how technology has helped to increase the employment rates of people with disabilities in Spain, increase the diversity and competitiveness of businesses who hire people with disabilities, and has made telework an effective formula to boost the employment of many people with disabilities.
Raising Awareness:
During the month of October, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) (English) organizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) (English), which celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates the general public about the value of an inclusive workforce. The theme for this year’s NDEAM is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All”, which emerged from discussions with organizations that partner with ODEP. NDEAM’s website includes resources, a poster in English and Spanish, ideas for celebrating NDEAM in your community, and a history of NDEAM that includes an interactive timeline.
Promotion:
The Corona Foundation has published a Guide for the Promotion of Inclusive Employment in Business to promote inclusive employment for vulnerable populations in Colombia. The guide discusses why it is important to create inclusive employment and what a business can do to promote inclusive employment; shows entrepreneurs how to maximize their results and offers them the tools to create inclusive employment in their organization; and explains how businesses can improve inclusive employment within their organization.
Information Portal:
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STPS, acronym in Spanish) (México), which is responsible for enforcing the Mexican Government’s Commitment 088 to strengthen and disseminate the benefits for companies who hire people with disabilities, launched the Capabilities and Employment portal in 2015. The portal was created as a communication link with companies interested in fostering the labor inclusion of people with disabilities and with workers with disabilities in search of a formal employment or productive occupation.
Resources:
- What can YOU do? The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort between various disability companies and organization that seek to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent that people with disabilities bring to the workplace, as well as the benefits that come from their full inclusion. The Campaign includes public service announcements and links to the organizations that support the mission of the Campaign.
- Abriendo Espacios (México), operated by the Offices of the National Employment Service (SNE, acronym in Spanish), provides vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities and older adults seeking employment. For companies who are hiring, Abriendo Espacios offers advice and support in hiring of people with disabilities and seniors.
- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (US) provides free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues, while working toward practical solutions that benefit the employer and employee. JAN also offers guidance on workplace accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities.
Further Research:
REHABDATA:
- Inclusive employment.
- Inclusive employment and vocational rehabilitation.
- Inclusive employment and technology.
PubMed:
- Inclusive employment.
- Inclusive employment and job accommodations.
- Inclusive employment and minorities.
International:
About Answered Questions
Each month, we look through the searches on our blog and through the information requests made by our patrons who speak Spanish and pick a topic that fills the largest need. Each resource mentioned above is associated with this month’s information need. We search the various Spanish language news sources and feeds throughout the month to bring you these articles. With the exception of the NIDILRR Projects, From the NARIC Collection, and Further Investigation, all the linked articles and resources are in Spanish – any that are in English will be clearly marked.
