Exploring the challenges experienced by people with disabilities in the employment sector in Australia: Advocating for inclusive practice‐ a review of literature

Abstract

People with disabilities are generally not considered as able participants in the workforce (paid or volunteer work) and therefore, they often experience exclusion from participating in mainstream employment opportunities. People with disabilities experience various barriers to employment, such as discrimination in the workplace, stigma, prejudice and stereotypes. However, some people with disabilities participate in the workforce and make valuable contributions towards economic development, social capital and wider society. This literature review summarises published research findings about the challenges that people with disabilities experience in pursuing employment opportunities, including volunteering and paid positions; and in undertaking these roles. Furthermore, it explores possible interventions to improve employment outcomes that are effective from the perspectives of people with disabilities. Findings indicate that effective practice takes an inclusive approach and allows clients to take ownership of solutions in relation to addressing the challenges they experience in the employment sector. For this reason, two different community development projects, which particularly focused on employment challenges for people with disabilities, as well as outlining strategies and solutions that promote client ownership were reviewed. Additionally, employment support techniques and strategies, as well as human rights' principles on work and employment for people with disabilities will be debated. Finally, implications for research and practice for the rehabilitation counselling profession and the disability employment services sector are discussed.

Practicing physicists’ knowledge about disability: Development of the Disability and Physics Careers Survey (DPCS)

“…One possible reason for the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in the STEM workforce is related to the knowledge and beliefs about disability of practicing physicists [9][10][11]. Specifically, Ruhindwa, Randall, and Cartmel (2016) state "people with disabilities often experience exclusion from participating in mainstream employment due to environmental, attitudinal, social and organizational barriers, and not issues relating to the effects of their impairments" (p. 6) [12]. If physics mentors have inaccurate knowledge or negative beliefs about people with disabilities, then they are less likely to appropriately mentor students and colleagues with disabilities.…”

A framework for developing employer’s disability confidence

“…Although people with disabilities are often willing and capable of working they continue to experience low employment rates, which can negatively impact their health and quality of life (Barnes and Mercer, 2005; Lindsay, 2011b; Ruhindwa et al , 2016). Common barriers to finding meaningful employment for people with disabilities are linked to stigma, discrimination and inaccessible environments (Edwards and Imrie, 2003; Fevre et al , 2013; Lindsay, 2011a; Lindsay and Yantzi, 2014).…”

Inclusive Employment for People With Disability: A Review

“…Therefore, research in this field should be expanded in Europe. The recommendation to expand and diversify studies on people with disabilities and employment had already been previously advised by other authors (Rey Pérez and Mateo Sanz, 2018;Ruhindwa et al, 2016;Shore et al, 2018), especially regarding research on how to develop inclusive work environments (Khayatzadeh-Mahani et al, 2019).…”

“…Therefore, at present, there are still very few studies focused on determining the contextual factors that can improve the labour insertion of people with disabilities (Rey Pérez and Mateo Sanz, 2018). The reviews carried out so far on this topic have consisted of narrative reviews of the literature (Ruhindwa, Randall, and Cartmel, 2016;Shore, Cleveland, and Sanchez, 2018) but a general bibliometric analysis has not been shown, a deficiency that this study tries to compensate.…”