| Citation: |
Harris, C., Switzer, E., & Gower, W. S. (2017). The Diversity Partners Project: Multi-systemic knowledge translation and business engagement strategies to improve employment of people with disabilities.
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 46
(3),
273-285.
|
| Title: |
The Diversity Partners Project: Multi-systemic knowledge translation and business engagement strategies to improve employment of people with disabilities |
| Authors: |
Harris, C., Switzer, E., & Gower, W. S. |
| Year: |
2017 |
|
Journal/Publication:
|
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
| Publisher: |
IOS Press |
| DOI: |
https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-170862
|
| Research summary: |
https://ep.vcurrtc.org/resources/content.cfm/1322
|
| Full text: |
https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil...
|
| Peer-reviewed? |
No
|
| NIDILRR-funded? |
Yes
|
| Background: |
Fragmented employment service systems, a lack of information about disability across sectors, and a wide disconnect between the efforts to employ people with disabilities and the needs of the business community, have presented barriers to the adoption of best practices and effective implementation of new policies designed to improve the employment rate of people with disabilities. |
|
Purpose:
|
The goal of the Diversity Partners Project is to develop, test, and launch an innovative learning intervention to improve the relationships between employment service professionals (including disability services, workforce development and staffing organizations) and employers seeking to hire individuals with disabilities. This paper illustrates how a systematic approach to knowledge translation (KT) was used in an iterative intervention development process that engaged key stakeholders at every phase. |
|
Conclusions:
|
In the disability arena, KT requires a willingness to challenge strongly held assumptions on the part of the project team, to move swiftly and repeatedly between inquiry and development, and to honestly engage with potential stakeholders who have a vested interest in the development efforts being undertaken. |
