Disability discrimination: The ultimate barrier to employment for disabled people

By Grace Avila

There is a misconception that hiring employees with disabilities is more challenging, and therefore, more work for employers. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities in both the recruitment process and after a person has been hired, some employers still express reluctance to hire disabled people. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), this often results from biased and negative perceptions towards disability and lack of training about disability. Employers think accommodations a disabled employee may need—such as equipment to perform job tasks—are costly (when these are often significantly lower than assumed) according to the U.S. Department of Labor,

Even once hired, these misconceptions prove detrimental to employees with disabilities. Disabled employees may find their workplace to be physically inaccessible (like through the lack of an accessible restroom or accessible parking). They may also lack access to necessary equipment to perform job tasks or reasonable accommodations according to An ADA Knowledge Translation Center Research Brief. A person with a physical disability and a person with a non-apparent disability who chose to disclose their disability may also face social isolation at work from both supervisors and co-workers. Barriers to equitable employment exist and persist at every stage for PWDs.

So where do we go from here? It’s been over 30 years since the ADA was signed into law, and disability discrimination continues to permeate every aspect of society. People with disabilities at large are disproportionately poorer than people without disabilities. In 2024, approximately a quarter (5.03 million) of disabled people from the age of 21–64 lived at or below the poverty line according to Disability Statistics and the National Council on Disability. As of September 2026, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 7.8%, double the rate for people without disabilities according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

As of September 2026, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 7.8%, double the rate for people without disabilities.

It’s time to be better. We can be better. Here are some easy ways to get started:

Rethink disability

What does the word disability mean to you? Is there a negative connotation to that word? We have learned so many misconceptions about disability that it can be difficult to open our minds to think about it in a different way. There are many disability activists who are active on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. These activists use their platforms to spread disability awareness and aim to normalize disability. The books Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau and The Anti-Ableist Manifesto by Tiffany Yu are great introductions to learning about disability.

Prioritize disability awareness training in your workplace

Supervisors, prioritize disability etiquette and awareness training in the workplace. More education means more knowledgeable staff who are better prepared to work with disabled co-workers, customers, and clients. If you are unsure how to approach your workplace about having a disability awareness training, you can always take one yourself. The CA Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for example offers free online webinars to the public about disability etiquette.

Recognize the value in individuality

Everyone has their own individual interests, personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. These are all largely shaped from our backgrounds and lived experiences—disability included. A person’s disability is a part of them and influences all these things too. Having a disability may give someone a unique viewpoint on how they see (and move through) the world and society. This isn’t a bad thing. Individuality is something to be valued. And we can meet people with compassion, curiosity, and kindness instead of fear and judgment.

While these are just some ways to incorporate disability awareness in your daily life, I hope this sparks your curiosity to keep learning more. Though learning about something new can be daunting, it is also rewarding. The way we show up for each other makes all the difference.