Improving Our Understanding of Unmet Needs Among Adults with a Developmental Disability

Jonathan Lai, Stephanie Dunn and Jennifer D. Zwicker
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Jonathan Lai: Mcgill University
Stephanie Dunn: University of Calgary
Jennifer D. Zwicker: University of Calgary

SPP Communique, 2017, vol. 9, issue 14

Abstract: Nearly two-thirds of adults with a developmental disability in Canada are not in the workforce, according to findings from the 2012 Canadian Survey on Disability. Labour force participation among this group is only half that of people without a disability, and even lower for persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Three in four respondents not working at the time of the survey reported that their disability had created barriers to employment. Common barriers included adverse employer attitudes, ill-suited work environments, inadequate job modifications, and unmet educational and daily living needs. With disability cited as the main barrier to employment, there is an urgent need for policies to be put in place to increase sustained and meaningful participation in the workforce for individuals with developmental disability. Many barriers to employment could be removed through policies targeted at the workplace (like job training programs, policies that promote accessibility and equal opportunity, employer training, and improved workplace practices) and broader policies promoting social inclusion and educational attainment.

Date: 2017
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