Moving Forward: Disability Training and Trends

Disability training has become an instrumental means of accommodating workers of most ability levels.  Qualified individuals may now find fulfilling careers in workplaces in spite of mental or physical impairment.  Technology has undoubtedly fueled this movement, assisting individuals to accomplish otherwise impossible feats.  Disability awareness has grown since the mid 1900s as well, contributing to fully functional diverse workplaces.  To continue with this progress, an assessment of disability trends is necessary.  Only by an examination of the past may we create a future that continues to strive for heightened disability awareness, appreciation, and equal opportunity among qualified individuals.

Training for Disability:  Examined Trends

To prepare for the future, we must study the past.  To help, the Disability Training Blog must turn to the Council for Disability Awareness (CDA).  In 2007, the CDA reviewed long-term disability claims, figures from participating companies, and data collected from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program.  Pooling this information, the CDA successfully uncovered several emerging trends with respect to disability prevalence among working Americans.

Disability Trends*

The 2007 CDA study uncovered the following trends in workers with disabilities:

1) Growth of Disabilities

Disabilities deemed “serious” are growing among American workers at a staggering rate.

2) Women and Young Employees Are Most Susceptible to Disabilities

Working women experience serious disabilities and almost twice the rate of men, while young workers aged 20-40 are experiencing such disabilities at a likewise increasing rate.

3) Decline in Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Nervous System Related Claims

Claims of this nature receded in 2007, perhaps because of increasingly effective and accessible medical technologies.

Meeting Needs with Disability Resources

The 2007 CDA study whispers a word of caution that organizations and business professionals are smart to heed.  Disability rates are climbing.  Most alarming are the rates of serious disability among women and young adults, two major talent pools from which disability employers draw to maintain diversity.  As rates of disability continue to climb, so too will the frequency with which employers encounter qualified individuals with disabilities.  This puts tremendous strain on employers to assimilate these individuals into the workplace, particularly in instances requiring strict ADA compliance.

Training for disability is the most effective way for organizations to anticipate this trend, accommodate individuals with disabilities, remain ADA compliant, and continue operating proficiently.  Moreover, disability training enhances business cultures through disability awareness and appreciation, two critical factors in leveraging diversity to create value.  In light of the research conducted by the CDA, and the trends uncovered therein, it is likely that the rate of disability will continue to grow with the American population.  Inclusive workplaces anticipate this trend, are positioned for a minimally disruptive transition, and are poised to excel while competitors play catch-up.

*Source for 2007 CDA study:  http://www.beamalife.com/blog/disability-insurance/5-most-alarming-long-term-disability-ternds/