Employer Perceptions of Hiring and Initial Support of Employees With Disabilities

Much of the literature to date on disability employment has focused on preparing and supporting individuals with disabilities seeking and retaining jobs (i.e., supply side). A growing body of demand-side research has revealed the importance of employer’s experiences, attitudes, and perspectives in promoting successful employment outcomes. Much remains to be learned about employers’ decision-making process around the hiring and initial onboarding of employees with disabilities. The current study consisted of interviews with 35 supervisors from businesses who had recently hired and were currently employing a person with a disability in a range of industries. Key themes across the hiring and onboarding phases highlighted the importance of employment specialists and the value of relationships and rapport to impact decisions made during these phases. Our findings resulted in several recommendations for future research, policy, and practice, the implications of which are discussed.