Living and Working with a Disability: ADA and Employment
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/02/05 - Updated: 2026/02/12
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Employment - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article provides practical information about the employment landscape for Americans with disabilities, covering how conditions affecting physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or mental functioning impact daily work life. The piece examines critical ADA workplace protections established in 1992, discusses the reality that over 65% of disabled Americans report being underemployed or unemployed, and highlights successful training initiatives like Denver Community College's 13-month IT program that uses adaptive technology including voice-recognition software. With one in five Americans having a disability and more than 54 million filing for disability benefits, this resource addresses both the barriers disabled workers face and the tangible solutions - from Social Security disability claims to employer-sponsored training programs - that help bridge the employment gap while boosting workplace productivity and loyalty - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Living and Working with a Disability
This article describes the ADA and the type of educational and professional assistance disabled persons may receive from various institutions and government agencies as well as its affect on internal business environments.
It is estimated that about one in every five persons in the United States is disabled. Disability can be natural through birth or acquired through a serious injury or accident. A disabled condition may involve any of the five following impairments: physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, mental, or chronic disease.
Whether you have a disability or know someone, it can be a difficult experience or factor in your daily livelihood. John Morgan, of the Morgan & Morgan Law Firm, is a dedicated Florida accident lawyer who specializes in protecting those who are disabled and assisting them in finding the best care and resources in order to live their life accordingly. A lot of his motivation to assist those who are disabled comes from his brother's accident at a theme park which left him permanently bound to a wheel chair.
Main Content
Living with a disability can affect many aspects of a person's life.
Comprehension of knowledge can deter a person in any personal, educational, or professional atmosphere. This can interfere with general tasks and demands as well as social interaction, community involvement, and day-to-day chores and routines. If a person suffered a trauma this may also involve emotion and psychological difficulty as well.
Discrimination can also be an additional, sometimes hidden, factor of being disabled. Fortunately, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was established in 1992 to protect disabled persons from prejudice. The act bans discrimination against anyone who suffers any mental or physical impairment. The ADA also mandates that all public facilities must provide accommodative features to the disabled through sensible policy, practice, and procedural adjustments.
Fortunately, John Morgan's brother is currently working for the call center at Morgan & Morgan. But for other Americans, jobs don't come as easily. According to the U.S. government, more than 54 million Americans file for disability. More than 65% of those people claim to be underemployed or unemployed. For those who are unable to work, filing social Security disability claims can be a difficult and tedious process but these benefits are vital to the survival of any disabled individual who, due to their condition, are unable to generate income to fund their daily livelihood.
For those who are able to work, IT jobs are becoming especially popular due to new technology. In response, the Denver Community College, in Denver, has been training workers with a broad range of mental and physical handicaps for jobs involving programming or network administration. The program is 13 months long and consists of many small classes, and one-on-one teaching. Part of the training uses adaptive technology such as voice-recognition software for the blind to use on PCs.
The U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with the Arlington, Va.-based Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) have also distributed a $500,000 grant in order to replicate a Denver program in Austin, Texas; Princeton, N.J.; and northern Virginia. This was distributed to decrease unemployment rates and encourage hiring of disabled Americans. In return, business should see a boost in employee loyalty and productivity as employers invest in their employees training and other important adjustments.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The employment challenges outlined in this article remain stubbornly relevant years after its publication, yet the solutions presented - particularly technology-enabled training programs and adaptive workplace tools - have only grown more sophisticated and accessible. While the ADA laid essential groundwork for workplace equity, the data showing that two-thirds of disabled Americans struggle with unemployment or underemployment signals that policy alone cannot close the opportunity gap. The IT training model described here, combining small class sizes with one-on-one instruction and assistive technology, offers a replicable blueprint that acknowledges a fundamental truth: when employers invest in proper accommodations and training, they don't just fulfill legal obligations - they tap into an underutilized talent pool that consistently demonstrates higher loyalty and sustained productivity, transforming what some view as a compliance burden into a genuine competitive advantage - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.