Myths versus Facts
Some Common
Misconceptions About
Employing Rhode
Islanders with
Disabilities
(Source:
Department of Labor)
MYTH: Hiring
employees with
disabilities
increases workers
compensation
insurance rates.
FACT:
Insurance rates are
based solely on the
relative hazards of
the operation and
the organization's
accident experience,
not on whether
workers have
disabilities.
MYTH:
Employees with
disabilities have a
higher absentee rate
than employees
without
disabilities.
FACT: Studies
by firms such as
DuPont show that
employees with
disabilities are not
absent any more than
employees without
disabilities.
MYTH: People
with disabilities
are inspirational,
courageous, and
brave for being able
to overcome their
disability.
FACT: People
with disabilities
are simply carrying
on normal activities
of living when they
drive to work, go
grocery shopping,
pay their bills, or
compete in athletic
events.
MYTH: People
with disabilities
need to be protected
from failing.
FACT: People
with disabilities
have a right to
participate in the
full range of human
experiences
including success
and failure.
Employers should
have the same
expectations of, and
work requirements
for, all employees.
MYTH: People
with disabilities
are unable to meet
performance
standards, thus
making them a bad
employment risk.
FACT: In
1990, DuPont
conducted a survey
of 811 employees
with disabilities
and found 90% rated
average or better in
job performance
compared to 95% for
employees without
disabilities. A
similar 1981 DuPont
study which involved
2,745 employees with
disabilities found
that 92% of
employees with
disabilities rated
average or better in
job performance
compared to 90% of
employees without
disabilities. The
1981 study results
were comparable to
DuPont's 1973 job
performance study.
MYTH: People
with disabilities
have problems
getting to work.
FACT: People
with disabilities
are capable of
supplying their own
transportation by
choosing to walk,
use a car pool,
drive, take public
transportation, or a
cab. Their modes of
transportation to
work are as varied
as those of other
employees.
MYTH: People
who are deaf make
ideal employees in
noisy work
environments.
FACT: Loud
noises of a certain
vibratory nature can
cause further harm
to the auditory
system. People who
are deaf should be
hired for all jobs
that they have the
skills and talents
to perform. No
person with a
disability should be
prejudged regarding
employment
opportunities.
MYTH:
Considerable expense
is necessary to
accommodate workers
with disabilities.
FACT: Most
workers with
disabilities require
no special
accommodations and
the cost for those
who do is minimal or
much lower than many
employers believe.
Studies by the
Office of Disability
Employment Policy's
Job Accommodation
Network have shown
that 15% of
accommodations cost
nothing, 51% cost
between $1 and $500,
12% cost between
$501 and $1,000, and
22% cost more than
$1,000.
MYTH:
Employees with
disabilities are
more likely to have
accidents on the job
than employees
without
disabilities.
FACT: In the
1990 DuPont study,
the safety records
of both groups were
identical.
