Dr. Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D., Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University authored an article, Employment of Persons with Disabilities: Past, Present, and Future, which is featured in the first edition of the Spotlight on Disability newsletter from the American Psychological Association (APA) Office on Disability Issues in Psychology.
The inaugural issue of the Spotlight on Disability newsletter (Issue No. 1, August 2008) showcases the important work of several psychologists in the area of employment and disability. Workplace integration and parity are important issues for the disability community. Since the 1990s, progressive legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, has promoted the employment of persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, these actions have not resulted in enough successful integration and equality in the actual workplace. Economic data reveals that the gap in employment rates between persons with and without disabilities remains significant.
This disparity points to numerous opportunities for psychologists in all areas of psychology to contribute their unique knowledge, skills, and research. For instance, prior to 2006, most research in the area of disability and employment focused on people as the unit of analysis. Today, psychologists have begun to engage research in demand-side studies, focusing on the broader context of employer needs, concerns, and daily practices.
The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) of Syracuse University fosters public-private dialogue to advance the civic, economic and social participation of persons with disabilities in a global society. The institute takes its name from Burton Blatt (1927-85), a pioneer in humanizing services for people with intellectual disabilities, a staunch advocate of deinstitutionalization and a national leader in special education. BBI currently has offices in Syracuse, New York City, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Tel Aviv.
The Spotlight on Disability newsletter from the American Psychological Association (APA) Office on Disability Issues in Psychology strives to raise the visibility of disability, to increase the understanding of applying psychology to disability, and to provide a forum by which psychologists can share their findings and research. The newsletter will be produced three times a year and distributed primarily via e-mail; each issue will explore a topical theme.
Burton Blatt Institute (BBI)
Syracuse University College of Law
Phone: (315) 443-2863 [voice]
Fax: (315) 443-9725
Web: bbi.syr.edu
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