From Bias to Inclusion: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding and Addressing Employment Barriers for People with Disabilities

Significant barriers to employment exist for people with disabilities (PWD). This mixed-methods study proposes to address the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) goal of reducing these barriers by examining the impact of academic training on attitudes toward PWD and developing tailored educational interventions. The structure of the training program is informed by a statistical analysis of 5,000 survey responses, which includes measurements from the Perceptions and Attitudes of People with Disabilities Survey (PAPDS) and the Interpersonal Comfort and Aptitude Scale (ICAS) assessing differences in perceptions across academic disciplines. Based on these findings, a pilot training program will be designed and implemented for college students in disciplines identified as having the least favorable attitudes toward PWD. The program’s impact on awareness and perceptions of PWD will be evaluated through surveys and focus groups after utilizing diverse educational modalities, including animated videos, podcasts, and interviews with PWD. By fostering positive attitudes towards PWD among future colleagues and employers, this program complements the employment incentives offered by the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program.