Individuals with disabilities perceptions on preparedness for the workforce and factors that limit employment.

OBJECTIVES

This research sought to identify the perceptions of individuals with disabilities regarding employment, how prepared they felt for the workforce, and what the limiting factors that affected employment were.

METHODS

Students from a local center for independent living's College for Living classes completed 60 surveys containing yes-no and Likert scale questions during their regularly scheduled class time.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven percent of individuals would like to attend a course to improve their skills. 82% of individuals who had participated in employment programs felt they had the necessary skills to work while 35.3% of those who did not attend employment programs felt they had the necessary skills. Transportation and disability status were the mostly frequently mentioned limiting factors to employment.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally, individuals who had either participated in an employment program were less likely to report barriers to their participation in employment than those who had never attended an employment program.