Global Q&A: ‘Can people with disabilities easily join the workforce in your country?’

Derek Seder, 37, Psychologist, San Francisco, USA: A lot of companies really work on providing accommodation for people who have various disabilities. Plus, there is more infrastructure these days in terms of accessibility for people with physical disability. So, that’s a big improvement. There is probably still some room to grow. Larger companies are more sensitive to it because they are more afraid of litigation. ... [In] bigger cities, it’s going to be easier. The more rural and industrial places are going to be slower to accommodate to disabilities of various kinds. Here in the Bay Area, it should not be a problem at all. In the Midwest, I can see it [being] fairly problematic, depending on the industry. (The Epoch Times)

Across the world, disabled people find both support and prejudice. Some countries encourage and help them work, others legally limit their role in the workforce. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Russia to Peru discovered when they asked locals:

“Can people with disabilities easily join the workforce in your country?”

 

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “If you could make a wish that would come true in the next 24 hours, what would it be?”