The knowledge economy and people with disabilities

It is timely and imperative that the issues surrounding employment of people with disabilities be addressed because, despite significant efforts globally to improve upon the employment and social integration status of people with disabilities, significant disparities between the status of people with disabilities and their non-disabled peers remains. According to statistics from the American Community Survey (ACS), in 2005 the employment rate of people aged 16-64 with sensory, physical, mental, and/or self-care disabilities was 37.5%, compared to 74.5% for people the same age without disabilities (Houtenville, Erickson, & Lee, 2007). In addition, the percentage of working age men and women with a disability in the United States with incomes below the poverty line was 25% in 2005 (Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics, 2007). Similar prevalence rates and employment and income disparities exist globally. In the European Union (EU), for example, almost 15% of EU working age population (ages 16-64) has a disability. In that age group in the EU, 62 % of those reporting no disability, 46 % of those reporting a moderate disability and 24 % of those reporting a severe disability are in work. Almost 70 % of those reporting a severe disability and somewhat less than half of those reporting a moderate disability are inactive; among those reporting no disability, 30 % are inactive (Eurostat, 2001).

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Knowledge Economy ,

People ,

People With Disabilities ,