"It just makes you more vulnerable as an employee": Understanding the effects of disability stigma on employment in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the United States, affecting approximately 1 million Americans. However, there is a dearth of research on the employment experiences of individuals with PD. This research article makes a crucial contribution to the literature by examining the role of disability stigma in shaping employment options in PD, with relevance to the experiences of adults with chronic and/or progressive diseases more broadly.

Methods: The author conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 23 adults under the age of 65 with PD. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The author utilized an integrated approach to analysis, primarily employing a thematic analysis approach. Additionally, a narrative analysis strategy, the Listening Guide, was integrated into the broader thematic analysis to deepen analysis of discrimination and stigma.

Results: Findings demonstrate how internalized, anticipated and/or experienced disability-related stigma profoundly affects employment experiences, influencing participants' work outcome expectations and acting as an employment barrier.

Discussion: Findings have implications for health care practice and education, disability policy, early intervention strategies after the onset of PD and priorities for future research.