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The Able Trust Conducts Statewide Study to Address Employer Attitudes Toward Hiring Individuals with Disabilities

In 2003 The Able Trust partnered with the Milbank Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation to conduct a study of business employers in Florida concerning their policies, practices, and attitudes related to hiring persons with disabilities. The study was conducted by the Center for Information, Training, and Evaluation Services (CITES) of Florida State University (FSU), who obtained a sample of businesses from forty-eight Florida counties that were provided by the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

A major finding of the study was a lack of knowledge among employers about disability issues and disability resources available to businesses. Only 33% of all respondents report being highly aware of disability issues; 50% have no formal policy for hiring individuals with disabilities; 25% feel they are recruiting well; and 35% have disability-training programs. Moreover, the majority of employers showed a lack of familiarity with agencies and programs related to individuals with disabilities (especially those that provide financial assistance). Most employers, however, expressed positive attitudes towards employees with disabilities. Small businesses (less than 20 employees) had more positive attitudes than larger ones.

The study also dealt with how businesses that are Florida Chamber of Commerce members differ from non-Chamber members in their attitudes toward employees with disabilities. The study found the Chamber group to be more sensitive to the needs of workers with disabilities and possibly to the advantages of hiring them. Chamber members appear to have a greater level of awareness of disability issues (including more familiarity with disability programs and services), more experience dealing with employees with disabilities (more Chamber businesses have formal disability hiring policies and have made accommodations for employees with disabilities), and more positive attitudes than non-Chamber members.

The Able Trust hopes you find this report informative, and looks forward to developing projects in Florida to continue to educate the business community about the valuable, yet untapped labor pool of people with disabilities. For a complete copy of the study, click here.