THE AMERICANS-WITH-DISABILITIES-ACT, MENTAL DISABILITY, AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

This research examines the response of employers to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with a specific focus on the employment of th ose with mental disabilities. A telephone survey was completed in a me tropolitan area in the southern United States with a random sample of 117 businesses. In terms of specific practices that indicated complian ce with the ADA, 15% had specific policies for hiring those with menta l disabilities, and 37.6% had indeed hired such individuals. Companies that had complied with the ADA were more likely to be large and to ha ve specific policies for the hiring of minorities and those with physi cal disabilities. Employers also did not believe that employment of th ose with mental disabilities was their responsibility, and supported i ncreased efforts by the rehabilitation community to improve employment opportunities for individuals with mental disabilities. Mental health service providers need to work more closely with employers in their r egions and educate them about the capabilities of individuals with men tal disabilities, and inform employers that the types of accommodation s necessary are neither costly nor difficult to implement.