Project Overview
Americans with disabilities have significantly lower levels of employment than their non-disabled peers. Prior study of employment rates among people with disabilities generally has relied on a “supply-side” approach, analyzing how personal characteristics predict employment and earnings. These models have not sufficiently analyzed variables related to employer demand (and the interaction of employer demand/supply and the environment) as predictors of employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Thus, there is a need to systematically understand demand characteristics for qualified workers with disabilities, particularly as work requirements change over time. This project sets out scientifically rigorous and evidence-based methods to develop, identify, and evaluate employment demand-side models.
The Demand Side Employment Placement Models ("Employer Demand") project is funded by a five-year grant from the U.S Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), Grant No. H133A060033. NIDRR Project Officer: Shelley Reeves.