Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing Cognitive and Affective Reactions of Employers Toward People with Disabilities in the Workplace

  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction The goal of this study was to assess the construct validity of the Affective Reactions subscale of the Disability Questionnaire by analyzing its underlying factor structure. The Affective Reactions subscale consists of 21 items measuring emotional reactions related to working with people with disabilities and contributes to the overall measurement of employers’ attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. Methods The sample included 142 employers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the factorial structure of the Affective Reactions scale and multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between affective reaction factors and ADA knowledge, perceived reasonableness of workplace accommodations, and experience working with people with disabilities. Results Exploratory factor analysis revealed three underlying attitude dimensions: (a) Negative Cognitive and Affective Reactions, (b) Positive Attitudes toward Accommodations, and (c) Positive Attitudes towards Equal Treatment of People with Disabilities in the Workplace. Multiple regression analysis results indicated that positive attitudes toward people with disabilities in the workplace are associated with positive beliefs about the reasonableness of accommodating people with disabilities in the workplace and positive attitudes are related to higher level of experience working with people with disabilities. Conclusions The construct validity of the Affective Reactions subscale of the Disability Questionnaire is supported by the identification of three underlying attitudinal constructs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harris L. Key findings: 2000 N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities. National Organization on Disability. 2000 [cited 2003 September 15]. Available from: http://www.nod.org.

  2. Dutta A, Gervey R, Chan F, Chou CC, Ditchman N. Vocational rehabilitation services and employment outcomes of people with disabilities: a United States study. J Occup Rehabil. 2008;18:326–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Johnson KL, Antmann D, Yorkston KM, Klasner ER, Kuehn CM. Medical, psychological, social, and programmatic barriers to employment for people with multiple sclerosis. J Rehabil. 2004;70:38–49.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chan F, McMahon BT, Cheing G, Rosenthal DA, Bezyak J. Drivers of workplace discrimination against people with disabilities: the utility of attribution theory. WORK J Prev Disabil Rehabil. 2005;25:77–88.

    Google Scholar 

  5. McMahon BT, Chan F, Shaw L, Wilson L, Holzbauer J, Hurley J. Drivers of disability harassment and intimidation in workplace discrimination: the national EEOC ADA research project. J Career Dev Soc Policy. 2006;21:103–24.

    Google Scholar 

  6. McMahon BT, Rumrill PD, Roessler R, Hurley JE, West SL, Chan F, et al. Hiring discrimination against people with disabilities under the ADA: characteristics of employers. J Occup Rehabil. 2008;18:111–21.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dixon KA, Kruse D, Van Horn CE. Restricted access: a survey of employers about people with disabilities and lowering barriers to work. New Jersey: Rutgers: State University of New Jersey; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lehmann IS. Minimum wage rates and employment of individuals with disabilities. J Rehabil. 2006;72:50–7.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Levy JM, Jessop DJ, Rimmerman A, Francis F, Levy PH. Determinants of attitudes of New York State employers towards the employment of persons with severe handicaps. J Rehabil. 1993;59:49–54.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pawluk DT, Hurley J, Chan F. Allegations of reasonable accommodation discrimination by people with visual impairments filed under Title I of the Americans with disabilities act: characteristics of merit vs. non-merit resolutions. The Rehabil Prof. 2008;16:233–40.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hernandez B, Keys C, Balcazar F. Employer attitudes toward workers with disabilities and their ADA employment rights: a literature review. J Rehabil. 2000;66:4–16.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Harrison O. Employing people with disabilities: small business concerns and recommendations. Inst Commun Inclusion Res Pract. 1998;4:1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Millington MJ, Szymanski EM, Hanley-Maxwell C. Effect of the label of mental retardation on employer concerns and selection. Rehabil Counsel Bull. 1994;3:27–43.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Clarke NE. Attitudes toward Title I of the Americans with disabilities act: an indirect method of measurement [dissertation]. [Lansing]: Michigan State University; 1997.

  15. Lewis NV. Assessing employers’ understanding of the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act [dissertation]. [Stillwater]: Oklahoma State University; 1997.

  16. Bruyere SM. Disability employment policies and practices in private and federal sector organizations. Ithaca (NY): Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Extension Division, Program on Employment and Disability; 2000.

  17. Bruyere SM, Erickson WA, VanLooy SA. Comparative study of workplace policy and practices contributing to disability nondiscrimination. Rehabil Psych. 2004;49:28–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Bruyere SM, Erickson WA, VanLooy SA. The impact of business size on employer ADA response. Rehabil Counsel Bull. 2006;49:194–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Pitt-Cattsouphes M, Butterworth J. Different perspectives: workplace experiences with the employment of individuals with disabilities. Boston: Boston College Wallace E. Carroll School of Management; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Florey AT, Harrison DA. Reactions to requests for accommodations from the disabled: theory and evidence in two populations. Academy of Management Proceedings. 1997;139–143.

  21. Hornberger C, Milley P. Diversity planning for inclusive employment employer survey. Toronto, ON: Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gilbride D, Stensrud R, Ehlers C, Evans E, Peterson C. Employers’ attitudes toward hiring persons with disabilities and vocational rehabilitation services. J Rehabil. 2000;66:17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kregel J, Unger D. Employer perceptions of the work potential of individuals with disabilities. J Voc Rehab. 1993;3:17–25.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Unger DD. Workplace supports: a view from employers who have hired supported employers. Focus Autism Other Dev Disabl. 1999;14:167–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. McLoughlin CS. Barriers to hiring students with disabilities in the workforce. Inter Ed J. 2002;3:13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Popovich PM, Scherbaum CA, Scherbaum KL, Polinko N. The assessment of attitudes toward individuals with disabilities in the workplace. J Psych. 2003;137:163–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Chan F, Pruett S, Livneh H, Wang CC, Zheng L. Societal attitudes toward disability: concepts, measurements, and interventions. In: Chan F, Cardoso E, Chronister J, editors. Psychosocial interventions for people with chronic illness and disability: a handbook for evidence-based rehabilitation health professionals. New York: Springer; Forthcoming 2009.

  28. US Census Bureau. American fact finder: Colorado Springs, CO [Internet]. Washington DC: US Census Bureau; 2000 [cited 2006 Jan 31]. Available from: http://factfinder.census.gov.

  29. Colella A, DeNisi AS, Varma A. Appraising the performance of employees with disabilities: a Review and model. Hum Resour Manage Rev. 1997;7:27–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. McCaughey TJ, Strohmer DC. Prototypes as an indirect measure of attitudes toward disability groups. Rehabil Counsel Bull. 2005;48:89–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Preparation of this manuscript was supported through a National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) funded Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) grant awarded to the Rocky Mountain ADA Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado (PR#H133A060079) and the NIDRR funded Virginia Commonwealth University’s Coordination, Outreach and Research Center for the National Network of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Resource Centers (PR#H133A060087).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTAC), Rocky Mountain ADA Center, Colorado Springs, CO, 80907, USA

    Jana Copeland

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Room 414 University Club Annex, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Fong Chan

  3. Department of Human Rehabilitative Services, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA

    Jill Bezyak

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington-Seattle, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA

    Robert T. Fraser

Authors
  1. Jana Copeland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fong Chan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jill Bezyak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert T. Fraser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fong Chan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Copeland, J., Chan, F., Bezyak, J. et al. Assessing Cognitive and Affective Reactions of Employers Toward People with Disabilities in the Workplace. J Occup Rehabil 20, 427–434 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-009-9207-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-009-9207-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation