Who is Protected by the ADA? Evidence from the German Experience

Abstract

Proponents of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reason that if the disability-related barriers to employment are removed, the goal of full employment for the population with disabilities can be reached. However, some researchers have suggested that the ADA will not be the panacea hoped for by its most ardent supporters. In particular, concerns have been raised about the ability of the ADA to promote employment among the doubly disadvantaged—those with a poor education and poor job skills, on the one hand, and a disability, on the other. This article uses the experiences of the doubly disadvantaged in Germany, a nation that pursues a disability policy that includes direct intervention in the labor market on behalf of workers with disabilities, to gauge the impact of the ADA on this group. The patterns observed in Germany suggest that while the ADA may have an impact on the ability and willingness of the doubly disadvantaged to remain in the labor market, it is not likely to guarantee their long-term economic well-being.