Policies of inclusion for employees with disability : the gap between theory and practice

Abstract

The main focus of the study is to explore how policies of inclusion for people with disability in the labour market are benefiting employees with disability and highlight the difficulties that are being faced as a result of gaps between policy and practice. The study was carried out using the social model approach and the emancipatory research paradigm. The research methods that were used to investigate this include open-ended and semi-structured interviews with people with disability who are currently employed as well as with policy makers who work in the area of the inclusion of disabled people in employment. Interviews with employees with disability were carried out so as to understand the positive and negative aspects of their work situation while interviews with policy makers were carried out to explore their concerns and ideas on the employment situation of disabled people. Analysis of the data obtained from the interviews was carried out to highlight the different and common concerns of employees with disability and policy makers and get a clear picture of existing gaps between theory and practice and the developments that are needed to reduce these gaps. The findings showed that there has been a change towards greater inclusion of people with disability in employment and that the policies that have been developed in this area are quite beneficial to the employment situation of employees with disability. However, there are certain needs which are still not being met and so more enforcement of certain policies that have been developed to include people with disability in employment is required.