Exploratory Analysis of Telecommuting Projects Involving Persons with Disabilities
James E. Jarrett, University of Texas at Austin, April 1994, 40 pp.
Telecommuting projects, besides being established for transportation objectives, may enable employers to accommodate the disabilities of qualified applicants, or existing employees. This project identified telecommuting projects initiated to provide accommodations under ADA, those established prior to the passage of ADA to serve the employment needs of employees with disabilities, and those created to reemploy employees on workers’ compensation. Principal findings were: (1) Telecommuting involving persons with disabilities has been extensive, yet data are scarce and unsystematically collected; (2) Projects usually have not been started because of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and (3) Most telecommuting involving persons with disabilities has occurred primarily because of efforts by specialized, private, non-profit organizations to train and place individuals. Telecommuting for persons with disabilities appears to be on the verge of a major expansion if appropriate safeguards are established to prevent disabled employees from being segregated from other employees. This research will be of most use to human resource professionals and those in the disabled community seeking methods of enhancing the employment of individuals with disabilities. The cases identified in the report can be used as potential telecommuting prototypes for future, larger projects.
Keywords: Telecommuting, Persons with Disabilities, Employment, Home-Based Work, ADA
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Reference Report #60018-2