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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 9 May 2023

Arif Jetha, Ali Shamaee, Emile Tompa, Peter Smith, Ute Bültmann, Silvia Bonaccio, Lori B. Tucker, Cameron Norman, Cristina G. Banks and Monique A.M. Gignac

The world of work is changing and creating challenges and opportunities for the employment inclusion of young people with disabilities. In this article, the perceptions held by…

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Abstract

Purpose

The world of work is changing and creating challenges and opportunities for the employment inclusion of young people with disabilities. In this article, the perceptions held by young adults with disabilities regarding participation in the future of work are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

One-on-one interviews were conducted with Canadian young adults (ages 18–36 years) living with a disability. Participants were asked about their thoughts regarding the impact of the changing nature of work on their labor market involvement and career aspirations. A thematic analysis was performed to identify and examine emergent salient themes.

Findings

In total, 22 young adults were interviewed; over half held secure employment. Career aspirations and work-related decisions were primarily shaped by a participant's health needs. The future of work was seen as a more proximal determinant to employment. Digital technologies were expected to impact working conditions and create barriers and facilitators to employment. Participants who indicated being securely employed held positive expectations regarding the impact of digital technology on their work. Participants working precariously held negative appraisals regarding the impact of digital technologies on employment opportunities. The role of technological and soft skills was critical to participating in a labor market reliant on advanced technology. Participants reported barriers to developing job skills related to their disability and their work arrangements.

Originality/value

This research highlights the importance of considering changes in the future of work, especially the digital transformation of the economy, in the design of initiatives which promote the employment inclusion of young adults with disabilities. Despite the significance of the changing nature of work, supporting health needs and encouraging access to secure work arrangements also remain paramount.

Details

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, vol. 42 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7149

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 31 July 2023

Louise C. Palmer

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition with variable physical, cognitive, and quality of life impacts. Little research has investigated how MS outcomes vary by social…

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition with variable physical, cognitive, and quality of life impacts. Little research has investigated how MS outcomes vary by social identity (race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, and nationality) and social location (place within systems of power and privilege). However, emerging evidence points to racial and ethnic group disparities in MS outcomes. This chapter integrates core concepts from the life course perspective and an intersectional feminist disability framework to interrogate the role of diagnosis pathways in determining differential MS outcomes. MS diagnosis pathways (the time from symptom onset to the point of diagnosis) are a logical place to begin this work given the varying nature of symptom onset and the importance of a quick diagnosis for optimal MS outcomes. Whereas the life course perspective provides a framework for understanding disability transitions and pathways across the life span, an intersectional feminist disability framework centers disability within an axis of overlapping social identities and locations. The combination of both frameworks provides an approach capable of examining how MS disparities and inequities emerge in different contexts over time. The chapter begins with an overview of MS and current knowledge on disparities (mainly racial) in MS prevalence, diagnosis, and outcomes. The chapter proceeds to describe the utility of key concepts of both the life course perspective and intersectional frameworks when researching health disparities. Finally, the chapter ends with a theoretical application of an intersectional feminist disability life course perspective to investigate disparities in MS diagnosis pathways.

Abstract

Details

Disabilities and the Life Course
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-202-5

Book part
Publication date: 29 June 2023

Prompilai Buasuwan and Meechai Orsuwan

The world is changing rapidly and unexpectedly. COVID-19 is a warning sign that future generations need to be prepared for the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA…

Abstract

The world is changing rapidly and unexpectedly. COVID-19 is a warning sign that future generations need to be prepared for the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world where more complex situations remain to be seen. Students from all walks of life should have equal access to quality education that can equip them with skills to cope with new challenges. Although the inclusion of students with special needs in Thailand has allowed them to have academic and social interaction with non-special needs students in higher education institutions, little is known regarding how COVID-19 has impacted them and how they have navigated online learning. What are the learning challenges that college students with special needs face? Digital learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic can be an even more significant challenge for students with special needs. However, some of them may feel online learning is a lifeline and a nice learning accommodation. Is it possible that they may want to continue to stay in remote accommodations, even if face-to-face classes resume? Would any of the practices return to normal and be fruitful for the VUCA world? Using data collected through in-depth interviews, this chapter identifies learning challenges confronting special-needs college students through the lens of a right-based approach and how inclusive digital learning can turn these challenges into opportunities and help these students flourish in a VUCA future. This chapter begins with a brief historical background of inclusive education policy in Thailand's higher education institutions. The chapter then, using a case study of KU, Thailand, identifies and discusses existing challenges and problems currently facing special needs learners and analyses how universities can help them to deal with and overcome such challenges. Finally, the chapter discusses the opportunities and challenges of how inclusive digital learning can play a pivotal role in elevating the learning experience and outcomes of Thai college students with special needs in the VUCA World.

Details

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Special and Inclusive Education in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous (Vuca) World
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-529-8

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 31 July 2023

Carrie L. Shandra and Fiona Burke

How people spend their time is an indicator of how they live their lives, with time use over the life course conditioned both by age and by participation in age-graded…

Abstract

How people spend their time is an indicator of how they live their lives, with time use over the life course conditioned both by age and by participation in age-graded institutions. This chapter uses nationally representative data from the pooled 2008–2020 American Time Use Survey (ATUS) to evaluate how time use in 12 activity categories varies by age, gender, and disability status among 137,266 respondents aged 15 and older. By doing so, we quantify the “disability gap” in time use between men and women with and without disabilities, identifying at what age and by how much people with disabilities experience time differentials in activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and other indicators of social participation. Results indicate that – at many ages – patterns of time use for people with disabilities deviate from those of people without disabilities, with more pronounced differences in midlife. Further, the magnitude of women's disability gaps equals or exceeds men's for sleeping, and nearly all ADLs and IADLs, indicating that disability gaps are also gendered.

Details

Disabilities and the Life Course
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-202-5

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 October 2023

Wei Li, Tianran Ni, Yi Zhang, Daan Wang and Salvador Parrado

This study aims to examine the effects of vocational training programs for people with disabilities on their income.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of vocational training programs for people with disabilities on their income.

Design/methodology/approach

It conducted a multinomial regression analysis of 10,469 survey responses from 31 provincial administrative areas in mainland China.

Findings

It finds the following antecedents all influence the trainees’ self-reported income, including their perception of the quality of the program, the training subject, the degree of consistency between their current job and this subject, their employment sector, their motivation and access to training resources and the geographical location of the program.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are not representative of people with disabilities across mainland China because the respondents were not randomly sampled.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that to increase the income of people with disabilities, the training can be designed according to the needs of employers by teaching subjects relevant to the needs of the labor market, reaching out to motivated trainees and enhancing the quality of training. Training institutions, employers and governments are recommended to work together to integrate class-based learning with workplace-based learning and practices. More training resources can be devoted to the self-employed people with disabilities or those who operate in the informal sector and are in less-developed areas.

Social implications

The improvement of employment opportunities and income of people with disabilities supports the safeguarding of their social economic rights and the building of an inclusive society.

Originality/value

Few studies have empirically explored and explained the effects of vocational training programs on people with disabilities’ income. This article fills this gap by assessing the performance of China's vocational training programs funded by the Federation of Disabled Persons at all levels.

Details

Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-3896

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 29 June 2023

Suang-I Anunthawichak

This chapter presents the Readiness Approach of Educational Administration for Children with Special Needs in Inclusive Learning Management in the VUCA world by summarising…

Abstract

This chapter presents the Readiness Approach of Educational Administration for Children with Special Needs in Inclusive Learning Management in the VUCA world by summarising Inclusive Learning Management in Thailand and analysing the challenging situation in the VUCA world to discuss about the Readiness Approach of Educational Administration to face the unexpected. The chapter describes the possibilities in three parts: Part 1: Summarising the literature reviewed of Inclusive Learning Management in Thailand. Part 2: Analysing the challenging situation in the VUCA world from the following four concepts: (1) Framework for twenty-first-century Learning Concept; (2) Hard Skill and Soft Skill Competencies Concept; (3) Thailand National Education Standards (2018) and (4) A Commission Report on Education Reform through Competency-Based Curriculum & Instruction. Part 3: to propose Data synthesis of The Readiness Approach of Educational Administration for Children with Special Needs in Inclusive Learning Management in the VUCA world.

Details

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Special and Inclusive Education in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous (Vuca) World
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-529-8

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 30 October 2023

Etinder Pal Singh, Jyoti Doval and Deepak Halan

After reading and analyzing the case study, the students would be able to understand the complexities of leadership and decision-making in a diverse workplace, specifically when…

Abstract

Learning outcomes

After reading and analyzing the case study, the students would be able to understand the complexities of leadership and decision-making in a diverse workplace, specifically when promoting differently abled employees; explore the importance of fostering an inclusive environment, addressing biases and developing empathy in the context of leadership and diversity; explore the challenges and considerations involved in managing a team with diverse backgrounds and abilities; and evaluate the potential impact of promoting employees with disabilities on the morale and retention of other team members.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study is about a hearing-impaired individual, Jessica, who was recently hired by a medium-sized organization, Zerial Education. She was the organization’s first hire with a disability, and some of her colleagues were skeptical about how she would fit in. There was a clear bias against her because of her disability, and she faced many challenges while proving herself and earning the respect of her colleagues. Despite the initial skepticism and bias, she quickly proved herself to be a valuable member of the team. As the appraisal period arrived, Stan Logan, her reporting manager, faced a tough decision. He wanted to be fair and avoid to seem to be biased, yet he was also committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. If he promoted Jessica, it would affirm the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and it would also validate Jessica’s impressive year of work. However, this might come at the cost of creating tensions among the other top performers who were also deserving of the promotion and potentially complicating client interactions owing to Jessica’s hearing impairment. Logan had to navigate these complexities and make a decision that aligned with both the company’s values and operational needs, while also considering the potential consequences on team morale and client relationships.

Complexity academic level

The case is suitable for use by students at an MBA level. Human resource management: In this course, students might learn about the legal and ethical issues surrounding disability in the workplace, as well as strategies for recruiting and retaining employees with disabilities. Organizational behavior: In this course, students might learn about the psychological and social factors that influence how individuals with disabilities are perceived and treated in organizations, as well as how to promote diversity and inclusion within a company.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 6: Human resource management

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 6 October 2023

Nicole Bérubé

This paper aims to describe an experiential learning activity designed to sensitize students to the prevalence and challenges of disclosing invisible disabilities in the…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe an experiential learning activity designed to sensitize students to the prevalence and challenges of disclosing invisible disabilities in the workplace. It provides an impactful learning experience about a widespread phenomenon that receives little attention in textbooks.

Design/methodology/approach

The exercise assigns a hidden disability to some participants who interact with others who act as trusted friends. The interactions help participants develop their ability to interact sensitively with those who may have hidden disabilities. They explore the advantages and disadvantages of disclosing hidden disabilities at work. Guiding questions help focus deliberations during which participants consider the influence of their assigned role.

Findings

A plenary discussion follows where students share the outcomes of the simulation. Debriefing questions and suggested answers help instructors deepen student learning on the topic. A follow-up assignment allows participants to summarize personal learning about the subject and solidify the learning outcomes.

Originality/value

Most workers with nonapparent disabilities hide them, although disclosing them may help their employers provide helpful accommodations. This learning activity helps increase awareness and understanding of hidden disabilities in work settings and supports learning about disclosing and accommodating disabilities in the workplace. Instructors can use the activity to support understanding of employee rights, equity and accommodations in large or small classes, in-person or online, synchronously or asynchronously.

Details

Organization Management Journal, vol. 21 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2753-8567

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 August 2023

Neelam Bansal, Mala Tandon and Himangshu Das

The main purpose of the study to identify the importance of computer devices in vocational studies for person with disabilities (PwDs) are as follows: This study aims to observe…

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of the study to identify the importance of computer devices in vocational studies for person with disabilities (PwDs) are as follows: This study aims to observe the role of computer training in vocational training of a PwD. This study plays an important role in the vocational training of a PwD. With the help of ICT curriculum, effective vocational training is possible to help the trainee, the parents, the professional, the employer and the community easily. It builds awareness about career and employment options for individuals with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The present investigation is descriptive research. The study has divided in to two phases such as—in the first phase of the study, the researcher has developed the tool for demographic data of PwDs. The tool is described as depth in following: There are two tools, the first tool had 16 different items related to demographic information of PwDs and the second one had 18 different items are related to computer skills and ability. The second questionnaire was a close-ended questionnaire. It was developed based upon the VAPS, BASAL-MR questionnaire developed by NIMH have questions on disability condition, management, policies, training and services available for PwDs. There are some basic areas in the tool are related to personal, academic, communication, vocational and recreational skills. The researcher had sent the questionnaire to the seven expert members related to disability for modifications. The researcher had modified and improved the tool as per expert advice. The role of the researcher in this research was to pose the research question and create conducive atmosphere to discourse, in order to encourage the participants to give the answer correctly. The researcher had prepared findings and a conclusion on the basis of the score obtained by PwDs. For the second phase of research, the researcher conducted interview with PwDs to assist the information related to computer skill training and importance in vocational potential for PwDs Participants: The sample selected for the study was 50 PwDs participants including 36 female and 14 male participants with benchmark disability (above 17 years of age) enrolled in the vocational unit in Uttar Pradesh. Purposive sampling was used for sample selection. Procedure: At the beginning, the investigator met with the concerned authority of the respective institutions for identifying the PwDs. And researcher had also contacted to parents and PwD for the present study. The data were also gathered by interviewing PwDs with help of their parents and PwDs. The investigator interviewed them by the help of self-made tools. On the whole, 50 individuals with disability were interview for present study.

Findings

The PwD mostly depends upon their family due to lack of job or livelihood skills. Anyone can obtain a job/business with help of vocational training or job training. In order to live an independent life, with social surroundings, basic vocational skills is desirable. PwDs is able to hold gainful employment or manage their daily financial activities with computer skills easily. ICT skills are very easy and useful to reading and writing, understand decision-making, logical thinking, problem-solving and so on.

Research limitations/implications

The future research may guide parents and service providers, belonging from different geographical areas how to train the PwD. The study will indicate researches to guide parents to select appropriate job options for a PwD. Resources related to computer training for PwDs are very limited. In future, the research may conducted in specific disability for better output.

Practical implications

This study plays an important role in the vocational training of a PwD. Computer-based training model is easily implementable, cost-effective and accessible all over India. With help of new technology, the vocational training becomes systematic and structured for PwDs. Individual and group guidance is available for large and small groups all over India for PwDs. Computer-based instructions are clear and easy instructions for PwDs, and it avoids the unnecessary confusion of parents regarding the vocational training programmes of their PwDs. Computer-based vocational training is helpful for better employment options for PwD.

Social implications

The attitudinal barrier will be reduced with computer training. The study will help in the training of the PwDs in different job roles. Computer training in the vocational curriculum will make the training part easy for trainers and PwDs as per his requirements. There are many organizational barriers to technology adoption are particularly problematic given the growing demands and perceived benefits among students about using technology to learn.

Originality/value

This paper adds new and significant information since it focuses on a specific group of persons who are disabled and the significance of using technology in learning. In conclusion, the findings in this study have valuable implications for PwDs, special educators and parents. This study creates effective in increasing positive atmosphere for PwDs in society and increases inclusion at vocational training centres. Therefore, it is important for technology base vocational training and education.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

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