The unemployment rate for the disabled is 8.5% – about double the rate for those without disabilities. A related statistic that doesn’t get as much air time is that about 40% of disabled adults experience depression – a rate four times higher than the general population. The disabled are also three times as likely to attempt suicide than those not considered disabled.
For many, the loss of employment is not just about lost income – it’s about losing a sense of purpose.
I became a quardiplegic following an accident in April of 2013. It was about a month later when the extent of my predicament first sunk in. A friend came to visit and brought some french fries that he offered me. My fingers didn’t have the dexterity to pick one up and when I did manage to do so I didn’t have the strength to hold one. I could no longer use a keyboard, click a mouse, or even plug in my phone. Any expectations I had of returning to work vanished. I became depressed and seriously considered suicide.
Two years later, following a prolonged period of physical therapy, I found a job. I still remember the feeling when I saw an office with my name on the door. The clouds of depression lifted and though I still faced a lot of challenges, my sense of purpose was restored.
Employment is much more than a paycheck for many people, but for the disabled it often holds even more meaning. When a person is limited in what they can do, their job often becomes where they derive their sense of purpose. This is especially true for men, the majority of whom are defined by their job. Deprived of that and lacking in social networks and interests outside work far more than women, their lives lose meaning. The lack of meaningful work is a primary reason men commit suicide at a rate four times that of women. The rate is even higher for the disabled.
Work and Purpose
A job or employment plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s sense of purpose, which is essential for overall well-being. For one, work allows people to contribute to society, whether through services, products, or innovations. Feeling useful and knowing that one’s work has an impact fosters a sense of self-worth. Having a job provides daily structure, which helps maintain mental stability and productivity. A routine reduces feelings of aimlessness and gives people a reason to start each day with intention. A job also fosters relationships and social interaction with colleagues and clients. Social connections help combat loneliness and contribute to a feeling of belonging. Work challenges people to develop skills, solve problems, and achieve goals.
All of these are things I took for granted until I didn’t have them. I felt completely useless and a burden on others. In a matter of seconds I had gone from having a busy day, work-related travel, and constant interactions to having nothing to fill the time. I could have certainly filled the time reading, watching TV, and talking to others of which there were many who wanted to. But my day was reduced to going to physical therapy, after which I would stay in a room with the doors closed and the curtains drawn. I’m a prolific reader but I read nothing and I did nothing.
Work is how people often define themselves through their work (e.g., “I am a teacher,” “I am a programmer”). Feeling competent in a job boosts confidence and self-esteem, reinforcing a positive self-image. A job gives people the means to support themselves and their families. For those who are not disabled, unemployment creates the same challenges as those faced by the disabled, but they usually know that unemployment is a temporary situation. For a disabled person it can feel like this is the end of the line.
For individuals with disabilities, employment is even more crucial in combating social isolation and fostering independence. Finding meaningful work that aligns with one’s abilities can greatly improve mental health, confidence, and overall life satisfaction. In the week after I started working I finished two books and planned a cruise with my family.
Leveraging AI for Disability Inclusion
AI and large language models (LLMs) could revolutionize hiring for disabled individuals. AI-driven tools could:
With the right adaptations, many disabled people can excel in fields ranging from mechanics to finance, IT, and creative industries.
For example, small adaptations to tools can allow a disabled person to do automotive work, but the adaptations vary and need to be designed to augment an individual’s strengths. Simple changes like adding velcro grips, longer handles, and wheelchair-friendly workstations are often all that’s needed to allow a disabled person to do a well-paying job doing mechanical work.
An autistic person can work well in an office if provided with noise-cancelling headphones, soft lighting, and communication is mainly by email instead of by phone calls or verbal means. Reduced expectations for social activities such as office parties also helps.
“Disabled”, not “Special”
A common mistake when discussing disability is the term “special.” The word was likely intended to emphasize unique abilities, but its Latin root, specialis, means “belonging to a species.”
The disabled are not a species.
The correct term is disabled – from the Latin dis- (meaning “opposite” or “lack of”) and habilitas (meaning “ability” or “fitness”). It acknowledges real challenges, but doesn’t define people by them.
Most disabled individuals don’t want pity or label – they want opportunities. Employment for the disabled is not just about diversity quotas or social responsibility. It’s about unlocking untapped talent. It’s about giving people back their dignity, purpose, and independence.
With better hiring practices, adaptive tools, and inclusive workplace policies, we can break barriers – and transform lives. Most disabled people want to be seen as unique. They know there are some things they cannot do, anymore than someone reading this can play in the NFL. Then again, you could try out for the Jets. After all, how much worse could you be than Aaron Rodgers in the last season?
