Assessing disability inclusion climate in the workplace: A brief report

Article type: Brief Report

Authors: Iwanaga, Kanako^{a; *} | Chen, Xiangli^b | Wu, Jia-Rung^b | Lee, Beatrice^b | Chan, Fong^b | Bezyak, Jill^c | Grenawalt, Teresa Ann^b | Tansey, Timothy N.^b

Affiliations: [a] Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA | [b] University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA | [c] University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Kanako Iwanaga, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, Northern Illinois University, Wirtz Hall, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement structure of the Abbreviated Disability Inclusion Scale. METHODS:Exploratory factor analysis results indicated a two-factor measurement structure (disability inclusion climate and disability inclusion preparedness). CONCLUSION:Higher levels of disability inclusion were found to be associated with lower levels of employer stigma. The Abbreviated Disability Inclusion Scale can be used as part of an assessment battery in demand-side employment research for model testing, as well as an outcome measure in intervention research.

Keywords: Demand-side employment, disability inclusion and diversity, employer stigma

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-180972

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 265-271, 2018