Abstract :
Changes in the work environment have provided opportunities for disabled people in the workplace, and employers must find ways of accommodating disabled employees. The 1988 Americans with Disabilities Act has made it illegal for employers to discriminate against disabled people. Disabled people have more opportunities because the introduction of computer technology into the workplace has made more jobs dependent on intellectual ability rather than physical strength. The decreasing supply of young workers has made it possible for more disabled people to enter the workforce. Employers may have to change their attitudes toward disabled people and modify job descriptions. The modifications include having lunches delivered to disabled people and using such devices as portable respirators and telecommunications equipment for the deaf.