The impact of computers on the employment of people with disabilities
Dr Graeme Smith.
Computer technology assists people with disabilities to be more productive. In the area of employment, the potential exists for computer technology to help overcome losses in productivity resulting from the disabling condition. Computer access alternatives are crucial in establishing this increase in productivity. However do these gains in productivity mean greater employment for people with disabilities? To answer this question the prospective gains in productivity need to be evaluated in relation to other factors affecting the employment of people with disabilities. This paper, based on recent doctoral research, examines this issue. It presents a model of employment of people with disabilities, focussing on four key junctions: the individual's decision to enter the workforce, the process of preparation for job readiness, the employer's decision to employ a person with a disability and on-the-job career development for the individual. This paper provides an evaluation of the potential of computer technology to increase the employment of people with disabilities. It also includes a critical evaluation of government policies in this area.
The full paper can be downloaded in Microsoft Word and Plain Text formats.