Accommodating Employees With Disabilities: A Matter Of Attitude

Employees with disabilities represent both an important concern and a potential source of value for employers. The need to examine attitudes towards these employees is stronger than ever. The article presents a model with important considerations for companies attempting to be more proactive in responding to the needs of employees with disabilities. Responding to these needs requires more than a set of policies to be pulled off the shelf when needed. Instead, an organization's response should be comprehensive. In addition to changing policies, an organization should seriously examine and question its attitudes, values and beliefs. If such efforts are undertaken seriously, employers may well find value in taking a proactive stance to employees with disabilities.