Employer Attitudes Toward Hiring the Learning Disabled

Abstract

To determine attitudes about employing workers with learning disabilities, 326 employers from six states were surveyed about their attitudes toward hiring the handicapped in general and the learning disabled in particular. The employers expressed positive attitudes toward making special allowances for handicapped workers as long as such allowances did not involve reduced workloads or involvement in the worker's personal life. Less positive attitudes were expressed toward hiring the learning disabled. Only one-half of the employers stated that they would hire workers with learning disabilities. These negative attitudes did not seem to be related to lack of knowledge about learning disabilities, but rather seemed to relate to prejudice against workers with learning disabilities or lack of experience in supervising such workers.