Job accommodation is a multifaceted and interactive process. Stakeholder groups (i.e., employees with disabilities, employers, and in some cases service providers) make decisions about requesting or providing job accommodations based on multiple factors in this process. An understanding of stakeholder differences in their perceptions of these…

This study determined the characteristics of employers who are open to hiring and supporting people with disabilities. The purpose was to help rehabilitation professionals better target their placement and educational activities. The results indicated that 13 specific characteristics, organized into three major categories, are found among…

Surveys of Portland and San Francisco employers about their reactions to job development activity found most were favorable or indifferent to being contacted by representatives serving the disabled. The hiring of state vocational rehabilitation agency clients increased with the number of employees and the number of positions filled. (Author)

Employers who have used natural supports in providing accommodations to supported employees were interviewed to determine their perceptions regarding the accommodation process. Results indicate that employers did not provide natural supports to supported employees beyond those offered to other employees; additional supports changed work…

Israeli employers' attitudes toward hiring people with different disabilities are examined. The study is concerned with employers' opinions of the person with a physical disability as a worker and employers' suggestions for improvement of the employability of persons with disabilities. (Author)

Rehabilitation counselors put the availability of jobs at the head of the list of client problems, followed by deficient job-seeking skills and poor employer reception of the disabled job applicant. Agency procedures and paperwork and lack of time were rated as the most serious impediments to counselors' placement efforts. (Author)

This study describes a series of focus groups conducted with employers. A series of 10 focus groups was conducted in 10 different communities in a midwestern state, with small, medium, and large communities represented. A total of 67 participants, representing human resources offices and direct supervisors, responded to questions regarding…

Explores the promotional potential and perceived value of employees with disabilities. Supervisors (N=168) made promotion recommendations for employees of a hypothetical company. Results demonstrate that candidates with either depression or obesity were evaluated more negatively than equally qualified non-disabled peers. Perceived personal blame…

Surveyed employers (N=100) on reservations about hiring people with disabilities. Found employers were convinced that workers with physical disabilities had positive work performance abilities and work personality attributes; opinions about workers with mental and emotional disabilities were much less positive. (Author/ABL)

Examined attitudes of employers (N=12) toward hiring epileptics and showed that many jobs existed that epileptics could perform. Employers in larger firms and with a college education were more informed about the work records of epileptics. Specific suggestions are presented to improve the employability of epileptic workers. (Author/JAC)

Seventy-four potential employers of mentally retarded persons were surveyed regarding their concerns in hiring the mentally retarded. Results revealed that most businesses did not employ the mentally retarded. The majority indicated they had jobs appropriate for the retarded and were willing to hire members of this group. (Author)

Employer ratings of the competence of graduates were studied as evaluation measures for rehabilitation counselor education (RCE) programs, with preliminary versions of questionnaires currently being used in the RCE accreditation process. The ratings showed little relationship to graduate ratings of adequacy of RCE preparation received. (Author)

Investigated attitudes of rehabilitation service providers, private sector representatives, and people with disabilities toward the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Found significant differences among the groups, especially in areas of cost, effectiveness, and attitude toward federal legislation. Most differences…

Interviewed 373 employers to assess their attitudes toward hiring persons with psychiatric disability. Concentrated on four major areas: symptomatology, work personality, work performance, and administrative concerns. Results suggested that employers differ in their level of concern based on industry type. Discusses implications for vocational…

Describes employment concerns of learning-disabled persons and suggests strategies to assist them in interacting more effectively with employers. Presents additional intervention strategies for rehabilitation counselors and placement specialists working with learning-disabled clients. (Author/CM)