Applying an intersectional ecological framework to understand ableism and racism in employment among youth and young adults with disabilities

Abstract

Purpose Youth with disabilities often face many barriers in finding employment. A knowledge gap exists surrounding the experiences of racially minoritized youth with disabilities who arguably encounter multiple and complex forms of discrimination. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of ableism and racism in employment among racially minoritized youth and young adults with non-apparent disabilities. Methods Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 racially minoritized participants aged 17—30 with non-apparent disabilities. Data were analyzed using a deductive thematic analysis approach informed by an intersectional ecological framework. Results Themes that affected racially minoritized youth’s employment included: (1) microsystems (i.e., individual barriers and facilitators to employment); (2) mesosystems (i.e., peers, family, disability, race/ethnicity, and work); (3) exosystems (i.e., workplace policies, healthcare system, educational institutions, community organizations); (4) macrosystems (i.e., ableism, racism, gendered discrimination and intersectional forms of discrimination); (5) the chronosystem (i.e., timing of obtaining employment, diagnosis and discrimination); and (6) ecological niche, which involved the extent to which work environments were safe and inclusive. Conclusion Applying an intersectional ecological framework facilitates our understanding of ableism and racism in employment among youth and young adults with disabilities. Further attention is urgently needed to minimize discrimination and enhance supportive, inclusive and psychologically safe, work environments for minoritized youth with disabilities.