Disability Employment
Research on trends and practices in hiring and retaining people with disabilities
Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, policymakers, organizations, and advocates, along with the business community, have worked to give people with disabilities an expanded role in the workforce. Traditionally, policy and research efforts have focused on better informing and preparing people with disabilities for the workplace. Recently, interest has shifted toward understanding the needs, issues, and cultures of businesses employing individuals with disabilities.
The Heldrich Center conducts in-depth research on trends and practices in hiring and retaining people with disabilities. Projects focus on increasing employment and economic independence of adults with disabilities, guidance for individuals with disabilities and their parents/caregivers, employers interested in putting people with disabilities to work, as well as evaluations of programs and policies designed for disability employment.
Projects
-
Aging, Disability, and Employment Initiative for the U.S. Department of Labor
Under the NTAR Leadership Center for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Heldrich Center has maintained a strategic focus on older workers, examining demographic trends, health and disability in midlife, and disability, aging, and employment trends and drivers.
View Project -
Community Colleges and Older Workers: A Review of Current Practices with an In-depth Focus on Dislocated Workers and Students with Disabilities
The Heldrich Center is reviewing current practices on serving older workers at community colleges to synthesize what is known about these practices and make recommendations for future practices to better address the particular issues facing older workers at community colleges.
View Project -
Development of a Comprehensive Guide about Employment for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Project to help adults with autism spectrum disorders better prepare to enter and thrive in the work world.
View Project -
Development of a New Jersey Business Leadership Network
Development of a Business Leadership Network in New Jersey.
View Project -
Development of a Parents' Handbook on the Future World of Work
Development of a handbook for parents who have children with disabilities.
View Project
Publications
-
Aging Workforce: Challenges for the Health Care Industry Workforce
Apr 01, 2013Identifies promising strategies from January 2012 symposium and offers some encouraging and notable examples from the participants that policymakers and employers could pursue to address the challenges of an aging health care workforce.
Download -
Aging Workforce: The Role of Medical Professionals in Helping Older Workers and Workers with Disabilities to Stay at Work or Return to Work and Remain Employed
Apr 01, 2013Reviews highlights of a September 2012 symposium and discusses several promising strategies and actionable recommendations for helping older workers and workers with disabilities to return to work or stay at work.
Download -
April 24, 2013 Newsletter
Apr 24, 2013This issue reports on DiscoverAbility NJ, an effort to help the employment prospects of individuals with disabilities in New Jersey.
-
Attitudes and Beliefs of Job Development Professionals toward Employers
Sep 07, 2011Explores the attitudes and beliefs of job development professionals toward employers. Finds that length of service in the profession affected job developer attitudes and beliefs.
Download -
College Students with Disabilities: What Factors Influence Successful Degree Completion? A Case Study
Sep 24, 2012Examines the views of students with disabilities who successfully completed college and the staff from five colleges and universities in New Jersey without regard to particular program and funding initiatives. Offers observations about students with disabilities and promising practices and challenges of the colleges they attended. Highlights areas for further study and development of supports for students, staff, and faculty.
Download