Copeland, J.L. (2007). Impact of Disability in the Workplace: An Assessment of Employer Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University, 2007). UMI 3268598.

People with disabilities continue to be the poorest, least educated, and least employed group in the United States. While several conditions contribute to their low labor market participation, negative attitudes of employers continue to present a barrier to the integration of this group in the workplace. The purpose of the study was to examine employer attitudes toward disability in the workplace. The study examined beliefs about what constitutes a disability, affective reactions toward working with individuals with disabilities, and beliefs about the reasonableness of common workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities and their relationship with several demographic characteristics. Results from a survey of employers indicate that while attitudes are generally positive, there is still some level of confusion regarding what conditions are protected by the ADA. Overall familiarity with disability is the only characteristics predicting attitude. Implications are discussed and recommendations for researchers, policy makers, educators, employers, service providers, and workers with disabilities are offered.