ERIC Number: EJ1438746
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Sep
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1044-2073
EISSN: EISSN-1538-4802
Experiences of Legally Blind Individuals at Different Stages of the Employment Cycle as These Relate to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act
Marco Tarantino; Jared Reyes
Journal of Disability Policy Studies, v35 n2 p97-105 2024
The most recent data on the labor force participation rate of individuals who identify as being blind or having vision loss in the United States indicate it is approximately 44%. In 2014, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs promulgated regulations pertaining to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to address the continued lack of employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These reforms had the potential to expand individuals with disabilities' employment horizons as it was estimated that the number of employees who work directly under a federal contract number in the millions. Five years later, it is unclear how federal contractors are implementing these alterations to recruit and retain legally blind individuals. Using quantitative analysis of responses from 140 current/former legally blind employees and job applicants, this research measured the current employment outcomes of the legally blind community in relation to the Section 503 regulations update. Gaps in employment for legally blind individuals existed, especially in regards to the job classifications in which they found the most success and whether the position held was disability-oriented. These results will inform HR professionals, policymakers, and blind advocates on how to proceed in developing effective disability-conscious workplace laws and policies.
Descriptors: Federal Legislation, Disabilities, Blindness, Visual Impairments, Partial Vision, Equal Opportunities (Jobs), Labor Force, Employees, Job Applicants, Affirmative Action, Stakeholders, Adults, Personnel Management
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts; California; Ohio
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Rehabilitation Act 1973
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A