Structural relationships among predictors of employer attitudes toward blind employees

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Negative employer attitudes are a primary factor associated with low employment rates and high unemployment rates of people with blindness and low vision (B/LV). Research has identified correlates of employer attitudes, but no investigations of the structural relationships between variables have been published. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to extend the current research regarding employer attitudes toward people with B/LV by assessing the structural relationship between variables associated with employer attitudes. METHODS: Participants were 387 hiring managers employed by organizations across the country who completed an online survey. We utilized structural equation modeling to confirm our measurement model and evaluate structural models of predicted relationships between variables. RESULTS: Five variables significantly predicted employer attitudes: awareness of people with disabilities at the worksite, knowledge, inaccurate belief in knowledge, previous hiring of someone with B/LV, and having a personal relationship with someone with B/LV. Previous communication with vocational rehabilitation (VR), having a company policy about hiring people with disabilities, and personal relationship predicted having hired someone with B/LV. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the value of VR professionals providing education about how people with B/LV perform work tasks while communicating with employers and providing trial work experiences to encourage hiring.