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Employment Concerns Report
Accessing the World of Work: Concerns of African Americans with Disabilities Actively Seeking Employment
Advocacy and Empowerment for Minorities Program
Institute of Disability and Human Development
University of Illinois at Chicago
Kimberly Hall, M.A.
Fabricio Balcazar, Ph.D.
August 15, 2004
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Employment Concerns Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Employment Concerns Report
- Events and Procedures
- Results Ranked by Importance
- Employment Concerns Brief Report
- Employment Concerns Discussion Report
- Table I: Demographic Characteristics of the Sample
- Table II: Vocational Characteristics of the Sample
- Appendix A: Sample Survey
- Public Meeting Announcement
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4
5
6-16
17-18
19-20
21-24
25
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Events and ProcedureS
Event 1: Working Group
Procedure:Step 1 – Identified working group participants from the target population from a pool of participants in a previous study on a similar topic.
Step 2 – Each working group member nominated 20 items from the Employment Concerns Item Index for inclusion on the survey.
Step 3 – Discussed items selected by working group members and decided on the 30 most important issues to include as items on the survey.
Participants:Eleven African Americans with disabilities participated in the working group. There were six females and five males ranging in age from 19 to 57. Disability type varied with 5 having a physical disability, one with a sensory impairment, 1 had a learning disability, 1 had a mental disability, and 2 had multiple disabilities. All had at least a high school education and 2 had earned a college degree.
Event 2: Survey Administration
Procedure:Step 1 – Participants were recruited from 4 local Division of Rehabilitation Service offices and a job fair for people with disabilities.
Step 2 – The Employment Concerns Survey was administered in a group setting with completion time ranging from 30 to 90 minutes.
Step 3 – Following completion of the survey, participants were compensated $15 and reimbursed $5 for transportation.
Participants:Two hundred and ten African Americans with disabilities completed the Employment Concerns Survey (see Table 1 for a description of the participants).
Event 3: Town Hall Meeting
Procedure:Step 1 – Survey participants and rehabilitation counselors from the local Division of Rehabilitation Service offices were invited to attend the meeting.
Step 2 – Meeting attendees discussed the dimensions of the major concerns identified through the survey and suggested alternatives for addressing them.
Step 3 – The minutes from the meeting were recorded and reviewed for feedback.
Participants:There were 28 attendees at the Town Hall meeting. Among the 28 attendees, there were 20 survey participants, 3 rehabilitation counselors, 1 administrator from the Department of Human Services, and 4 members of the Advocacy and Empowerment Program staff.
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RESULTS RANKED BY IMPORTANCE
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SURVEY ITEM
The education and training you receive prepares you for a job. S
You are qualified for jobs that pay more than minimum wage. S
You are confident in your own potential to work. S
Employers follow up with you after you apply or interview for jobs. P
You have reliable transportation to and from work. S
You are aware of your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Your skills and interests are evaluated accurately.
You have adequate health insurance while you are working. P
You have transportation to places where the jobs are like the suburbs. P
Career counselors are competent and professional when interacting with clients. P
You have access to information about your rights as a person with a disability.
The ADA improves job opportunities for African Americans with disabilities.
You can afford costs related to starting a new job such as money for transportation, clothes, tools or other equipment, etc. P
You can afford to pay for the education you want. P
You are qualified to do work that will not interfere with your health. S
You are able to choose the type of job training you receive.
You have accurate information about job openings you are interested in.
You have access to information about employment services.
Job placements are available for positions that pay enough money to make a good living.
Agencies address your needs as a person with a disability.
You have opportunities to receive paid job-training.
You receive up-to-date, marketable job-training.
Employers give you the same consideration as people without disabilities.
You receive reasonable accommodations in the workplace.
Job placement agencies are able to place most people in jobs.
The time and effort you put into participating in job fairs is worthwhile.
You know about job fairs before they occur.
You are an equal partner in planning vocational rehabilitation services.
Job placement assignments are permanent and long-term, not temporary.
You have access to affordable and quality childcare.
Mean IMPORTANCE Rating
84%
83%
83%
83%
81%
81%
80%
80%
80%
80%
79%
79%
79%
79%
78%
78%
78%
77%
77%
76%
76%
75%
75%
74%
74%
73%
73%
72%
67%
55%
MEAN SATISFACTION
RATING
77%
80%
78%
53%
75%
72%
74%
64%
60%
48%
72%
70%
63%
54%
75%
70%
66%
70%
65%
67%
65%
70%
66%
68%
63%
66%
63%
66%
63%
59%
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sItem was identified as an employment strength. PItem was identified as an employment problem.
EMPLOYMENT CONCERNS Brief Report
TOP STRENGTHS AND TOP PROBLEMS (N=210)
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SURVEY ITEM
MEAN
IMPORTANCE
RATING
MEAN
SATISFACTION
RATING
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Relative Strengths
The education and training you receive prepares you for a job.
You are qualified for jobs that pay more than minimum wage.
You are confident in your own potential to work.
You have reliable transportation to and from work.
You are qualified to do work that will not interfere with your health.
Relative Problems
Employers follow up with you after you apply or interview for jobs.
You have adequate health insurance while you are working.
You have transportation to places where the jobs are like the suburbs.
Vocational counselors are competent and professional when interacting with clients.
You can afford costs related to starting a new job such as money transportation, clothes, tools or other equipment, etc.
You can afford to pay for the education you want.
84%
83%
83%
81%
78%
83%
80%
80%
80%
79%
79%
77%
80%
78%
75%
75%
53%
64%
60%
48%
63%
54%
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EMPLOYMENT CONCERNS DISCUSSION REPORT
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Item
Employers follow up with you after you apply or interview for jobs.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
53%
Mean Importance Rating
83%
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Discussion of Problem
Once employers find out an applicant is disabled they do not call.
People do not know their rights about disclosing disability status.
Employers who advertise opportunities at job fairs for people with disabilities never follow up.
People with visible disabilities are most affected by this problem.
Repeated experiences with employers who do not follow-up is discouraging.
Discussion of Solutions
When applicants disclose their disability status, they should assure prospective employers that they can perform job duties. They must sell an employer on their abilities.
Applicants should become aware of and promote incentives to employers for hiring people with disabilities.
If a prospective employer is perceived as insensitive, invite a representative of that company to speak to a disability group about employment.
Find out laws and rights regarding disclosing disability status.
Report employers who discriminate to the EEOC.
Advocacy groups need to encourage and assist disabled job applicants in enforcing laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination.
Job applicants should be assertive and keep calling or go to the job site.
Applicants should ask when they should expect a call back and be persistent.
Pursue employment with companies known to hire people with disabilities.
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Item
You have adequate health insurance while you are working.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
64%
Mean Importance Rating
80%
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1
Discussion of Problem
Employers are reluctant to hire people with disabilities because they fear their insurance premiums will go up.
It’s unclear how long and to what extent health insurance is provided to SSA benefit recipients who obtain employment.
People with disabilities cannot afford health insurance.
People with disabilities cannot buy health insurance because of their disability and/or pre-existing condition.
Obtaining life insurance is also problematic since insurance companies discriminate based on disability and premiums are more expensive for people with disabilities.
Discussion of Solutions
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People with disabilities should form/join consumer groups to advocate for national health insurance.
Consumers can set up health insurance cooperatives as they did in Los Angeles.
Educate consumers about the availability of supplemental insurance.
Contact benefit specialists who can provide clarity on the insurance coverage for people with disabilities who are working.
Attend city council meetings and petition for city funds to help with medical expenses.
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Write government officials about health care issues.
Get information from and make use of the state insurance commissioner’s office.
Locate sources of free or low-cost health care for persons with disabilities: make a directory of these resources.
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1
Item
You have transportation to places where the jobs are like the suburbs.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
60%
Mean Importance Rating
80%
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1
Discussion of Problem
Many living wage jobs are in the suburbs of Chicago and the CTA, which most Chicagoans rely on for public transportation, does not travel to the suburbs.
Weekend and evening transportation is a problem with the Pace buses, which operate in the suburbs.
Not everyone with a disability is eligible for paratransit (door-to-door) service, and some who are deemed seasonal riders that can only use the service during the winter months
Employers and social network members think your lazy and do not want to work if you do not accept a job because of where it located.
People who do not have their own vehicles are most affected.
Discussion of Solutions
Ask the employer if other employees live in the city and try to develop a carpool.
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Become a subscription paratransit rider.
Form a local task force on transportation, decide what local citizens with disabilities need to commute and fight for it.
Develop a share-a-fare system as they did in Kansas City, MO where 900 wheelchair users a month participate.
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Item
Vocational counselors are competent and professional when interacting with clients.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
48%
Mean Importance Rating
80%
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1
Discussion of Problem
Counselors do not treat customers with respect.
Service providers fail to inform customers about all services available to them through their own agency, other agencies, and the community.
Counselors are not consistent in terms of the resources (e.g., clothing vouchers) they provide to customers.
Customers are not clear about the counselors’ role in helping to find employment.
Counselors’ failure to help customers find jobs deters long-term participation.
With many seasoned counselors taking early retirement, new counselors appear to be learning on the job at the expense of customers.
Agencies do not inform customers when their cases are transferred to new counselors.
Rules and criteria change so much that customers and potential customers are confused.
Discussion of Solutions
Educate consumers on using the Client Assistance Program if they have complaints about their counselor and/or are dissatisfied with services.
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Provide counselors training on dealing with people who have different disabilities and those from different racial and ethnic groups.
Counselors and clients should let their expectations and limitations be known up front.
Provide corrective feedback and information to service providers that fail to inform clients about benefits to people with disabilities.
Customers should be informed in writing when they are being transferred to a new counselor, when agency policies change, and when new services become available.
Organize a consumer group to meet regularly with agency representatives to advocate for customers.
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Item
You can afford costs related to starting a new job such as money for transportation, clothes, tools or other equipment, etc
Mean Satisfaction Rating
63%
Mean Importance Rating
79%
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1
Discussion of Problem
People do not have the money to pay for transportation to work when they are hired or need to get to an interview.
People do not have the money to buy uniforms or work clothes when they first get a new job.
Some counselors are reluctant to give bus passes and clothing vouchers even though they are available.
Discussion of Alternatives
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1
Service providers should inform all customers of policies regarding the availability of assistance with transportation and work attire.
Organize and request assistance with needed resources from appropriate agencies.
People can budget their money to ensure they can get to work until they get their first paycheck.
New hires should borrow money from friends of family members until they are paid.
Counselors could go shopping with participants if they fear vouchers will be used inappropriately.
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Item
You can afford to pay for the education you want.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
54%
Mean Importance Rating
79%
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1
Discussion of Problem
Those who want to go to school to become better qualified for job can not because tuition costs for post-secondary education are too high.
Admission application fees are expensive.
The Division of Rehabilitation Service is too selective when deciding who they will pay for to go to school.
There are so many other things to pay for in addition to tuition such as computers, books, supplies, and transportation.
Limited access to higher education leaves people stuck in the market for unskilled, low-paying jobs.
People with low-income and those without higher education are most affected.
Discussion of Alternatives
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Educate consumers about the resources available to assist with education costs and train them to self-advocate.
Talk to vocational and financial aid counselors about financial aid options.
Try to convince rehabilitation counselors to approve education costs.
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Item
The education and training you receive prepares you for a job.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
77%
Mean Importance Rating
84%
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1
Discussion of Strength
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People are better qualified for jobs after going to school or receiving job training.
Job-training programs that assist with job placement are the most successful.
Receiving an education opens the doors to more employment opportunities and increased wages.
Alternatives
Customers who are successful in reaching higher education goals should communicate their success with agencies who provide the support and advocate that it be extended to others.
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The Division of Rehabilitation Services should continue supporting customers who want to go to school.
There should more opportunities for assistance with paying for higher education.
Job training programs should provide training opportunities for those jobs that are available in the current job market and provide a living wage.
More opportunities for paid job training should be available.
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Item
You are qualified for jobs that pay more than minimum wage.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
80%
Mean Importance Rating
83%
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1
Discussion of Strength
1
Consumers feel they have the skills necessary for jobs that pay a living wage, although there is room for improvement.
People with disabilities recognize the need to get jobs that pay more than minimum wage so they do not have to rely on Social Security, welfare or other to support them.
Alternatives
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1
Counselors and other service providers should recognize and encourage customers’ self-confidence.
Service providers should work with customers to become employed in the types of jobs they desire and are qualified for.
People with disabilities should capitalize on their confidence by using it as an impetus to obtain and maintain employment.
Consumers need to realistic about their qualifications and seek additional training and education to pursue the jobs they want.
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Item
You are confident in your own potential to work.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
78%
Mean Importance Rating
83%
1
1
Discussion of Strength
1
Consumers believe they are capable of working despite the fact that they have a disability.
People with disabilities who want to work focus on their positive beliefs about self as a coping strategy when they have negative experiences with employers and service providers.
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1
Alternatives
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Service providers should reinforce customers’ positive beliefs about their ability to work.
People should translate their confidence into action and take the steps necessary to obtain employment.
Consumers should communicate their confidence when dealing with prospective employers.
People with disabilities should be supportive of their peers and encourage them to be self-confident as well.
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Item
You have reliable transportation to and from work.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
75%
Mean Importance Rating
81%
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1
Discussion of Strength
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Most Chicagoans with disabilities can count on the CTA to get them destinations around the city.
Some people have vehicles that have been outfitted so that they can operate them in spite of their disability.
Alternatives
Write letters and organize to improve public transportation to and around the suburbs of Chicago.
People with disabilities should advocate that the CTA has working lifts on all buses and accessible train stations throughout the city.
Individual who have their own vehicles should be supportive of others and cooperate in efforts to form carpools.
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Item
You are qualified to do work that will not interfere with your health or disability.
Mean Satisfaction Rating
75%
Mean Importance Rating
78%
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