The Limits of the ADA? Disability and Structural Inequality in the Post-ADA Era

David Pettinicchio, Assistant Professor Department of Sociology/School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto. Despite innovative laws in our country that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities, employment rates for people with disabilities are lower today than before the ADA was enacted, earnings are stagnant and both employment and salaries in the U.S. are well behind other countries. People with disabilities are still more represented in lower paying industries like arts, entertainment and food. Surveys have indicated that as many as one third of job seekers with disabilities say they were denied an interview because of a disability. Going forward, research needs to focus on labor market forces related to this problem and understanding the attitudes and behaviors of employers who are not hiring qualified individuals with disabilities.  

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