Recently, DisabilityScoop had an alarming story indicating that employers are less likely to respond to job seekers if they place information about disabilities in their applications.
According to the news source, researchers used fake cover letters and mentioned to perspective employers that they suffered from a disability, finding that applicants who mentioned disabilities were 26 percent less likely to hear back from employers. The National Bureau of Economic Research conducted the study.
The researchers sent in applications to 6,016 advertised openings for accounting positions. The applicants were all qualified for the positions based on experience and professional needs. The applications were broken down so that a third mentioned a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, another third mentioned spinal cord injuries and the remainder revealed no disabilities.
Researchers found that businesses with fewer than 15 employees were less likely to respond to applicants with disabilities, compared to larger companies. Applicants with disabilities were also more likely to generate interest from government positions or “publicly-held companies and firms that contract with the federal government.”
“The overall pattern of findings is consistent with the idea that disability discrimination continues to impede employment prospects of people with disabilities, and more attention needs to be paid to employer behavior and the demand side of the labor market for people with disabilities,” the researchers said.
If You Are Unable to Work Because of a Disability, You May Be Eligible for SSDI
It is sad and unfair that so many disabled Americans are facing discrimination when seeking employment. Unfortunately, many applicants who look for positions, who may not meet the physical demands of a job, give up searching for work and struggle financially.
For them, it may be in their best interest to look into applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. SSDI benefits are available to people who cannot work due to their condition, which is expected to last for longer than a year.
Although you may be seeking work, if you are continually denied positions due to your abilities, you may qualify for benefits. For more information about the SSDI process, you can visit our Social Security FAQ page.
Source: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/11/03/fake-disability-job-bias/20925/
