Employment and work adjustments of the disabled: 1972 survey of disabled and nondisabled adults

Abstract

Of the 15.6 million individuals in the United States who were currently disabled in 1972, 8 out of 10 were employed as the disability began. For these persons, several aspects of work adjustments after the onset of disability are examined here, with the measures of adjustment based on self-reports of the disabled. Women were less likely to be employed after onset than men. Those employed full time before they were disabled were more likely to work after onset than those who had been part-time workers. The relationship between duration of disability and employment varied with severity of disability. Among the severely disabled, those with a long-term disability were more likely not to work than were the recently disabled. Keeping the pre-onset work status varied with type of employment. For the severely and occupationally disabled, industries staffed by craftsmen and operatives had lower rates of retention than did other sectors. Most of those who returned to work after onset did so within 6 months. Men who returned to work did so more quickly than did women. Doctor's advice and family responsibility were the primary reasons for not returning to work.