Date of Award

1998

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Gareth Gardiner

Second Advisor

Joe Lonigro

Third Advisor

Algeretta Ellis

Abstract

This thesis will focus on the plight of disabled individuals. Many, many years ago, people with disabilities were looked upon as being demons or as being some cruel misfortune of nature. As time progressed, our views were not as naïve but the understanding and the empathy were not present.

Since the inception of The Americans with Disabilities Act, employers have been forced to open their doors to a new group of working individuals. The ADA laws have not only allowed individuals to become employed, but have opened doors in other areas as well. It is no longer difficult for disabled individuals to get in and out of buildings. For an individual with a disability, it is just as easy to go from floor to floor in the workplace and not to have to remain on the first level of a building.

The purpose of this thesis is to look at different ways that we can incorporate individuals with disabilities into our workplace and once they are in the workplace, how to treat them equally. We must treat them with dignity and respect as we would anyone else without a visible disability. There is a discernible difference in the way these individuals are treated. With time and education, these prejudices or misunderstanding will dissipate.

Studies have shown that disabled workers are just as good, if not better than non-disabled workers. Reason being, they feel as if they are given a chance to prove they are capable. Whereas in the past or prior to the ADA, they would never have been afforded the opportunity to work.

A collection of about ten different activities have been incorporated into this thesis. The purpose of these activities is to show employers and employees different ways sensitivity training can be incorporated into the workplace. When companies hire disabled individuals, training of such should be apart of the procedure, so that a feeling of discomfort or an act of ignorance does not shadow the workplace.

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