Bonnie O'Day, Ph.D., is a Research Associate with CESSI.
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Research Article
Does U.S. federal policy support employment and recovery for people with psychiatric disabilities?†
Article first published online: 2 DEC 2002
DOI: 10.1002/bsl.514
Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Issue
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Behavioral Sciences & the Law
Special Issue: Disability, Public Policy, and Employment
Volume 20, Issue 6, pages 559–583, November/December 2002
Additional Information
How to Cite
O'Day, B. and Killeen, M. (2002), Does U.S. federal policy support employment and recovery for people with psychiatric disabilities?. Behav. Sci. Law, 20: 559–583. doi: 10.1002/bsl.514
- †
This research was funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research under a grant provided to the Medstar Center on Health and Disability, Washington DC. Grant No. H133B70003.The contents of this article were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government. The authors acknowledge the assistance of the interview participants.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 2 DEC 2002
- Article first published online: 2 DEC 2002
Funded by
- National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Grant Number: H133B70003
- Department of Education
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
Evidence suggests that a high percentage of people with a psychiatric disability can recover—find meaningful work, develop positive relationships, and participate fully in their communities. Evidence also suggests that work is an essential component of recovery. However, few people with a serious psychiatric disability are actually employed and most of those who are employed work only part-time at barely minimum wages.
To assess the impact of federal programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance, vocational rehabilitation, medical insurance, and psychiatric services upon employment, we conducted a qualitative study of 16 employed and 16 unemployed individuals with psychiatric disabilities. All of our participants had disabilities severe enough to qualify them for Social Security Disability benefits.
They told us that current federal policies and practices encouraged employment and integration of only a few participants, in a particular stage of their recovery, and placed significant barriers in the employment path of others. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.