- Disabled workers say employers have become more accommodating and understanding of their needs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
- These workers were also more likely to weigh the availability of remote or hybrid options when considering a job opportunity
- The survey showed broad support for disability etiquette training among both disabled and non-disabled respondents
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
The growth of remote work options during the COVID-19 pandemic also helped employers to become more accommodating of employees with disabilities, a recent survey from Adobe finds.
The survey was issued to 1,000 workers and students, including both disabled and non-disabled respondents. Seventy-seven percent of disabled workers said their employer had been doing a better job of supporting them since the start of the pandemic, with a similar share saying their employer had become more understanding of their unique needs.
Disabled workers said remote and hybrid work arrangements have helped make it easier for them to work. A majority of respondents also expressed support for worker training to provide an understanding of disability issues.
- Nearly three-quarters of disabled respondents said accessibility and inclusivity efforts are an important factor when weighing a job opportunity
- Almost seven out of 10 said remote or hybrid options have made it easier for them to work during the pandemic; 58 percent said they look at whether this work arrangement is available when evaluating a job opportunity, 15 points higher than the overall share
- 70 percent of respondents with disabilities said they believe their company provides adequate disability training
- There was broad interest in this type of training, with 84 percent saying they thought their co-workers would benefit from it; the same share said they consider the needs of their disabled co-workers at least some of the time, while 77 percent expressed interest in learning more about disability issues
- Adobe described disabled people as the world’s largest minority group, encompassing 1 billion people worldwide and 61 million in the United States
