Decades have passed since the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs. And yet, organizations often still fall short when it comes to accommodating workers with disabilities. As the baby boomer generation ages and millions struggle with lasting effects from COVID, the ramifications of disability-related absences is set to increase if employers do not put steps in place to better support people at work.
The U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. Per a report from 2022, only 19% of working-age people with a disability were employed, a fact that falls in stark contrast to today’s loud society push for equity and inclusion in the workplace.
