Employing People With Disabilities in the Taiwanese Workplace

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the experiences of employers who had long-term experiences with employing people with disabilities in Taiwan. In-depth qualitative interviews were adopted as the main data collection instrument. The participants included 12 Taiwanese employers in the private enterprise sector with 2 or more years of experience hiring employees with disabilities beyond the required employment quota enacted by the Taiwanese government. The results identified four main reasons that led to hiring, including personal experience relating to people with disabilities, economic concerns, charitable perspectives, and policy implications. Although the employers were highly willing to collaborate with vocational rehabilitation systems, their needs for services rendered differed in the distinct employment processes. Employers expressed greater concern about the employability of applicants with disabilities during the recruitment and selection process than during the placement and accommodation stages. Barriers to career advancement for individuals with disabilities were indicated. This study underscores the importance of demand-driven employment strategies and highlights the need to gain insights into the experiences of employers who actually work with people with disabilities. The implications of the findings for rehabilitation practitioners are discussed.