Thread by @zeddymisiga

There’s a sustained global awareness on DISABILITY INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT - but are employers & co-workers ready for inclusion?

Arthur & I undertook a ~7months study speaking to 286 respondents to identify employment opportunities and entrepreneurship support available for PWDs

@TinadaOrg @IDA_CRPD_Forum We also assessed structural barriers 🗒️🧑‍⚖️❌🚷 to disability inclusion in workplaces

We conducted an implementation research in Kisumu County (All sub-counties) from Jul ‘21 to Jan ’22

Multistage random sampling and purposive sampling was used 📊

The data was collected thru’

♿️ 3 focus group discussions with 18 PWDs
👥 47 KII with public & private sector employers
🗒️ 221 youth with disability surveys
🔎Observational data from 3 sites

📈📊📉We found that

1. There exists disproportionate barriers within the PWD communities

For example, we found that majority employment and entrepreneurship opportunities fell to PWDs with mobility (physical) difficulties as opposed to those with other forms of disabilities

📉📊📈

2. There's prejudice and stigma towards PWDs

Surprisingly, this was evident among the employers and co-workers 🧐

At least 83% of PWD job seekers noted that they had to prove themselves – especially in their earlier days at work – before being accepted as qualified

📉📊📈

3. PWD job seekers were most likely to apply for government job opportunities

Why so?🤷 By comparing the results, we saw that government employers were more accommodative. 'Other’ employers still held onto negative stereotypes

🔎 ...Private employers were not willing to bear additional costs on assistive devices & modification works

🧍‍♀️Female PWDs preferred to engage in self-employment while 👨‍🦯Male PWDs were more optimistic in seeking job opportunities

*Gender disparities in the workplace? 👀

📈📊📉

4. There was limited access to financing

At least 79% of PWDs reported having difficulties in accessing loans & grants (think AGPO, uwezo, youth fund, revolving funds)

That said, <30% of PWDs had run their businesses (micro & small) for > 3+ yrs

📓 Conclusion

✅Majority PWDs have BASIC skills to apply for jobs

⬆️Positive attitude towards employment of PWDs among public sector employers

💹PWD enterprises missing out on vital business support due to low levels of awareness, inaccessibility of products, & know-how

💡ACTIONS your organization can take to promote diversity & inclusion in your workplace #InclusiveWorkplaces #DisabilityAwareness

👥👩‍🦯👩‍🦽🚶‍♂️

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to @USAIDEastAfrica and @IREXintl particularly Sylvia KANANU & James KARONGO who gave us valuable constructive feedback during this implementation research 🙏

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