“I miss work:” employment experiences and attitudes of adults with acquired disabilities who use assistive technologies

Abstract

Purpose This study explored employment experiences and attitudes of adults who acquired mobility, motor, and/or communication disabilities and who use assistive technologies. Materials and Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven adults about their employment experiences after acquiring their disabilities. After analysis of interview results, six participants completed surveys about their attitudes towards crowdsourcing and remote work. Results Findings indicate that adults can continue working with accommodations when they feel supported and valued by their employer. However, participants frequently compared their pre-disability work performance with their post-disability performance and at times, left work because they did not feel they were performing to their own expectations, regardless of the support of their employer. Participants experienced feelings of loss, regret, and identity change after acquiring their disabilities and after leaving work. Most participants did not have specific knowledge of available work alternatives which could accommodate their health and accessibility needs. When presented with accessible work alternatives, the majority of participants increased their interest in learning more about those options. Conclusions Whether through work or other pursuits, individuals in this population retain a strong desire to participate and contribute to society. However, it should not be assumed that adults with acquired disabilities are inherently aware of available, alternative options to traditional work. Future research on increasing awareness of accessible options for societal engagement for this population should be explored.