Assessing Workplace Culture and Disability Inclusion Climate: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act requires state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to work closely with businesses to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The workplace climate may determine employers' willingness to hire and retain persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation researchers are conducting research to validate assessment tools to help companies assess factors that affect their disability inclusion climate. The purpose of this study was to examine the factorial validity of the Workplace Culture and Disability Inclusion Questionnaire (WCDIQ), developed to assess the disability inclusion climate in a workplace and to evaluate organizational factors that contribute to disability employment and inclusive practices. A sample of 284 human resources managers and professionals who made hiring decisions participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a four-factor solution: (a) disability inclusion policies and procedures, (b) disability inclusion efforts and strategies, (c) disability inclusion preparedness, and (d) health and illness management policies and procedures. All four factors had strong internal consistency reliability and correlated with disability employment rates. The results of this study provide initial support for the reliability and validity of the WCDIQ for use by employers to evaluate their disability employment and inclusion efforts, and identify areas that need improvement. With further refinement, the WCDIQ can be used to guide the development of evidence-based disability employment and inclusion interventions to promote employment opportunity for people with disabilities.