| Background: |
Despite encouraging trends in Federal legislation and a growing societal commitment to the ideals of equal opportunity and social justice, poverty and income inequality continue to have dire consequences for Americans with disabilities (Murali & Oyebode, 2004; World Health Organization, 1995). There is ample evidence to indicate that income inequality produces psychosocial stress, and high levels of stress lead to deteriorating health and higher mortality (Dutta, Gervey, Chan, Chou, & Ditchman, 2008; Krause, Carter, Pickelsimer, & Wilson, 2008; Murali & Oyebode, 2004). In the United States, the labor force participation rate of 19.4% for people with disabilities is significantly lower than the 69.4% rate for people without disabilities (U.S. Department of Labor, 2014). There is no doubt that the lack of employment opportunities excludes people with disabilities from full community inclusion and participation, stalls upward mobility, and greatly affects their health-related quality of life (U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions [SCHELP], 2012). |
