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21 Apr 2020
Podcast

AIR Informs Episode #5: The Economics of the Coronavirus for People with Disabilities

Read a 508-compliant transcript of the podcast (Word) >>
Listen to all episodes in the AIR Informs podcast series >>

Image of Michelle YinThe coronavirus pandemic is affecting everyone around the world and hitting specific populations of people in different ways. In the latest podcast episode, Michelle Yin, an AIR economist who focuses her research on people with disabilities and the labor market, provides insights into how the virus is affecting this population.

A large proportion of people with disabilities are being adversely affected by the pandemic for a variety of reasons. Many are older than 65 and particularly vulnerable due to their age. Others—both children and adults—have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk for complications if they contract the virus. Many are experiencing interruptions to their routine medical care. Some were already living in poverty before the pandemic hit. Many are working in jobs considered “essential”—truck drivers, store clerks, and janitors—and this puts them at high risk for contracting the virus while receiving low pay. And many are being affected by a rise in barriers to social supports, such as transportation and other forms of assistance.

People with disabilities will more than likely be disproportionally affected by the economic effects of the pandemic. During the 2008 recession, people with disabilities lost their jobs at higher rates than people without disabilities. And while the overall employment rate bounced back around 2012, people with disabilities were just starting to see employment rates return to previous levels in 2019. This will more than likely be the case again because of the types of jobs they hold and stereotyping by potential employers. Some employers believe that people with disabilities are an “imperfect substitute” for employees without disabilities—even if they have comparable education, skills, and abilities.

The sudden shift to mass telecommuting and flexible working hours has the potential to benefit people with disabilities after the pandemic subsides. Prior to the pandemic, some employers would say that providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities was cost prohibitive. But the accommodations we’re now seeing as part of the response to the pandemic, such as the ability to telecommute and technology solutions, are things that some people with disabilities need. Moving forward, employers have the opportunity to create more inclusive, flexible environments for all employees.

Here are some topical resources for both employers and people with disabilities:

  • Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center (WINTAC) COVID-19 Resources
  • WINTAC Resources for Distance Service Delivery
  • Job Accommodation Network COVID-19 Resource Page
  • Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) – The ADA at Work: Considerations for COVID-19 Webinar (Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 1 PM ET)
  • EARN COVID-19 Newsletter (March/April 2020)
  • How to Pick an Accessible Virtual Meeting Platform (PEAT)
  • Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center COVID-19 Resources for People Living with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury

Related Work

1 Dec 2020
Spotlight

covid19-3-18-20-lkb-small-feat.jpg

Illustration of woman with cell phone

AIR’s COVID-19 Response and Resources

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. This virus, also known as COVID-19, has dramatically changed the lives of people around the globe, touching all aspects of life, from health care to education to the economy. In this new world of rapidly changing information about the virus, AIR seeks to be a source of evidence-based information that examines and begins to understand the various complexities of this crisis.
Topic: 
Education, Social and Emotional Learning, Technology for Teaching and Learning, Health, Health Cost and Coverage, Mental Health, Patient, Family, and Stakeholder Engagement, Trauma-Informed Care, Workforce, Adult Learning
1 Apr 2020
Q & A

MTE-MichelleYin_FINAL-White_031820-small-feature.png

Illustration of AIR expert Michelle Yin

Meet the Expert: Michelle Yin

Michelle Yin, Ph.D., works at the nexus of education and labor economics, with a focus on special populations that include people with disabilities, youth at risk of not graduating from high school, and adult literacy learners. Her work provides empirical evidence that helps inform policy, practice, and advocacy.
Topic: 
Education, Workforce, Disability and Rehabilitation
1 Oct 2020
Spotlight

iStock-1143476208-NDEAM.jpg

Disabled man working in a shoe store

Disability Employment Awareness

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), recognized every October in the U.S., celebrates workers with disabilities and the value of an inclusive workforce that benefits from their skills and talents. AIR’s disability and rehabilitation work aims to support people with disabilities in creating career pathways, pursuing employment opportunities, and gaining economic security.
Topic: 
Workforce, Disability and Rehabilitation
1 Oct 2019
Commentary

Improving Lives for People with Disabilities in the Workplace and the Marketplace

AIR's research on disability and employment not only highlights workplace challenges that adults with disabilities and employers face, but seeks to offer solutions. Michelle Yin provides an overview of AIR's work on this topic.
Topic: 
Workforce, Disability and Rehabilitation
23 Jul 2020
Podcast

AIR Informs: Responding to the Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic

AIR takes an evidence-based approach to its research, evaluation, training, and technical assistance work on a daily basis. For our latest podcast series, AIR Informs, AIR experts explore the different ways the coronavirus pandemic is affecting our lives and how we can address the challenges it presents.
Topic: 
Education, Afterschool and Expanded Learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Special Education, Health, Chronic and Infectious Diseases, Workforce, Disability and Rehabilitation

Further Reading

  • AIR’s COVID-19 Response and Resources
  • AIR Informs: Responding to the Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • AIR 2020 Year in Review: Using Evidence and Practice in Response to COVID-19
  • Long Story Short: What Do Employment and Educational Gaps for Workers with Disabilities Cost the Nation?
  • AIR Informs Episode #7: The Real Unemployment Rate and Workplace After COVID-19
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Michelle Yin

Michelle Yin

Principal Economist

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Disability and Rehabilitation

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