NIDILRR ARRT: Intersecting Marginalized Identities Among People with Disabilities: Impact on Access to Employment Support Resources and Employment Outcomes

Abstract

Objectives

To examine if demographic factors impact the disparity of resources supporting employment (RSE) and employment among people with disabilities (PWD).

Design

Prospective cohort study with a 2-year follow-up.

Setting

A nationwide disability research registry at the University of Washington used convenience sampling to recruit community-dwelling individuals with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, or postpolio syndrome, resulting in a sample size of over 2000 individuals from 2009 to 2017.

Participants

This study comprised 920 working-age individuals from 2014 to 2017, with more non-Hispanic White participants (86%) than Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

RSE (unawareness and level of availability, score range, 0-15) was assessed using 3 questions from the environmental item bank, covering disability accommodation, job placement and training, as well as information on work and volunteer opportunities. Additionally, participants’ employment status (employed and working hours for pay) was determined by their reported weekly hours worked for pay.

Results

PWD who belong to marginalized groups based on race, sex, age, education, and household income reported lower access to RSE and worse employment outcomes. One point higher in RSE was associated with lower unemployment (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.81) after adjusting for confounding variables and demographics. Significant interactions on employment were found between RSE and education, as well as between RSE and household income. The impact of RSE on employment status was more substantial for PWD with a bachelor's degree or high household income compared with their counterparts with a high-school education or lower and those with low household income.

Conclusions

Results suggest that marginalized PWD have less access to RSE, and this inequality directly affects subsequent employment rates, particularly PWD with lower education and household income. Ensuring equitable job opportunities requires increased allocation of RSE for marginalized PWD.

Disclosures

none. The contents of this report were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number H133B130018). National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this report do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.