Background: In current socioeconomic conditions, working occupies a key role in people's lives, from both practical and existential perspectives. The absence of work can produce a considerable impact on the identity of individuals and entire communities. This emphasis on work is even more important for some groups in society, particularly for people with disabilities. In the Italian context, despite the existence of legislation on the subject, only 16% of people with disabilities have a job. This study was conducted to understand how people with disabilities become included in companies.
Objective: This research proposes to highlight the ways in which corporate bodies' roles relate to people with disabilities' work in order to assess related theories, beliefs and critical aspects.
Methods: Using the M.A.D.I.T. (Methodology of Textual Analysis of Computerized Data), some companies' placement managers for people with disabilities were interviewed.
Results: This analysis highlights conditions explaining current difficulties, especially in the absence of agreed upon criteria and a delegation.
Conclusion: This research highlights the need to carry out a structural reorganization for the relationship between companies and employment agencies to avoid the risk that the lack of communication between the involved parties and the lack of support in the employment process may force companies to consider people with disabilities as an obstacle rather than a resource.
Keywords: Disability; Health; Job placement; Occupational rehabilitation; Workplace.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.