Catch 22

By Deborah Pal

“Who knows what I could have been?” This disturbing comment came from one of the 3,200 persons with disabilities who responded to recent vocational needs studies conducted by the Ontario March of Dimes. These studies reveal that 80 percent of adults with disabilities in Ontario are unemployed, caught in a vicious cycle preventing them from finding permanent work. This is much higher than the 58 percent cited in the Health and Activity Limitation Survey of 1986 as being either unemployed or not in the labour force.

They also show that these unemployed people not only have to overcome the false stereotypes of potential employers, but must address their own lack of education and confidence in their abilities.

“The most startling result of the survey revealed that two–thirds of those who are unemployed believe their disability will prevent them from ever finding work. They have given up trying,” says Annette Wilde, Chairperson of the Ontario March of Dimes Programme Research Committee. “This belief exists even though other persons with similar disabilities have succeeded in finding meaningful employment.”

This disturbing information has surfaced upon analysis of a series of studies that the Ontario March of Dimes began in 1988. With sponsorship from the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Office for Disability Issues, the organization surveyed 3,200 people with physical disabilities and more than 400 agencies in 16 regions and counties. While the focus was primarily in the areas of employment and education, the study also looked at related needs such as attendant care, housing and transportation. To complete the picture, agencies serving this population and, eventually, employers and placement agencies were also queried. The findings were both a surprise and a confirmation of the serious predicament facing persons with physical disabilities.

The majority are living at the poverty level, many receiving some form of social assistance, and almost half with incomes of $10,000 or less. The lack of services in some areas means that many persons with disabilities have to rely on family and friends for both attendant care and transportation.

Only one in five had found some kind of competitive employment. People living in cities with parallel transit stand a better chance, but in the more remote areas, the situation is perilous. Not only were the vast majority unemployed, but two out of three individuals reported they had stopped looking for work even though many said they still wanted a job. Only 14 percent felt they had reasonable chance of finding work.

Apart from geographical location and employer attitudes, a major barrier to employment is the lack of education. Over one-third of the unemployed respondents had less than a Grade 10 education, whereas only 15 percent of employed participants were at the same level. Many of the respondents knew that they needed more education and training, and about half expressed a desire for more schooling. The most popular area was computer training. In fact, interest in computer training was just as high among the employed as it was among the unemployed respondents.

Despite this high and unwelcome level of unemployment, less that one-third have ever been assessed regarding their educational and vocational potential.

“I don’t know what I can do because I’ve never done it before,” was a telling comment from another respondent.

“One of the greatest barriers to employment facing the sample population is the low level of self-confidence and the negative perspective of their employability. Assessment and counselling could identify job potential and begin to build this level of self-esteem,” says Jerry Lucas, Ontario March of Dimes Director of Programme Development.

Looking at the role of job placement agencies, fewer than one-third of the unemployed had ever used such an agency. Among employers, 70 percent reported that they had never been approached by a placement agency. Responses from employers indicated there is much room for improvement in attitude. Less than half of the companies had ever hired a person with a disability, with 30 percent never having even considered the possibility.

Many employers fear the costs entailed in equipment modifications and making the workplace accessible. But those who had actually hired a person with a disability did not see this as an issue. Modified duties could accommodate a good percentage of respondents. Another fact noted was that very few through various Ontario government ministries, and fewer still have taken advantage of them. It is interesting to observe, however, that those who have applied have been pleasantly surprised and would use these programmes again.

What this boils down to is that most employers have not thought about hiring persons with a disability and do not believe that these people would be capable of performing the job adequately.

In today’s world, it is vital that social service agencies base their programmes on facts and not assumptions. That is why these studies were undertaken. They will provide the board and management of the Ontario March of Dimes with the kind of information they need to make wise decisions and to plan the right kind of employment services and vocational rehabilitation programmes in the immediate future and in the years to come.

“We are committed to integrating people with disabilities into the mainstream of community life,” says Fraser Deacon, President of the Ontario March of Dimes. “We will be looking at utilizing new technologies, building new alliances and improving services to rural communities.”

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS

Ontario March of Dimes Study = 80%
Health & Activity Limitation Survey (1986) = 58%
General Population (Ontario) = 11%

EMPLOYMENT BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

PERCENT EMPLOYED:

Less than grade 10 = 10
High School = 20
Post-secondary = 40

EMPLOYER ATTITUDES

-Less than ½ had hired a person with a disability
-Costs of modification were seen as too high
-Persons with disabilities considered unable to do the job