Workplace discrimination outcomes and their predictive factors for adults with multiple sclerosis

Because employment is a significant predictor of the quality of life of people with disabilities (Rumrill, Roessler, & Fitzgerald, 2004; Viermo & Krause, 1998), discrimination in the workplace that interferes with successful job acquisition or retention is a serious matter. Unfortunately, this type of discrimination is all too prevalent. In a survey conducted by the National Organization on Disability (National Organization on Disability, 2004), one in five employed individuals with disabilities reported that they experienced discrimination in their efforts to work. This finding of one in five workers with disabilities translates into substantial numbers of Americans who do not have fair access to employment opportunities. For example, estimates based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau (Head & Baker, 2005) indicate that approximately 50 million Americans of workforce age have disabilities.