Key Themes from Employers for Hiring People with Disabilities
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The following visual illustrates key themes identified through interviews with employers who have hired someone with a disability. The interviews explored how employers make the decision to hire and accommodate workers with disabilities, and what practices help create a successful business relationship. The visual emphasizes the importance of building rapport and strong relationships, as well as the vital role that the Employment Specialist plays in creating a positive experience throughout the hiring and onboarding process.
Hiring Process:
Positive Previous Experience
Subcodes:
- Personal Connection
- Previous intern or employee
- Prior Exp. with employment specialist
- Prior work exp. with other PWD
First Impressions & Values
Subcodes:
- Match or fit
- Soft skills
- Valuing disability
- Creating opportunities for diversity and inclusion
Pre-hire Accommodations
Subcodes:
- Perceptions of accommodations
- Support from employment specialists
- Adjustment to application
- Job customization
Onboarding & Training:
Employment Specialist Interaction
Subcodes:
- Communication & coordination
- Training & education
- Easing concerns
- Personal connections
Accommodations
Subcodes:
- Compensatory supports
- Adjustment to work schedule
- Job restructure
- Low-cost equipment modification
- Mentoring
Benefits of Accommodations
Subcodes:
- Benefit of employment specialist
- Consistency
- Reduced stress
- Increased Ability
Everything is related to the “Building rapport and relationships” and the “Importance of job coaches”
Brooke, A. M., Taylor, J. P., Inge, K., Wright, T., Wehman, P., McDonough, J., & Brooke, V. (2025). Employer Perceptions of Hiring and Initial Support of Employees With Disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 68(4), 249-261. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552241265317
The contents of this infographic were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number #90RTEM0013). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The infographic of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.