What is a Barrier to Employment?

We consider a barrier to employment any challenge that may prevent a person from getting or keeping a job, or advancing in their career. Many individuals who face barriers want to work and are fully capable of doing so, but the barriers they face may prevent them from getting the opportunity to show their talents.

Some common barriers to employment include:

Age (55+)
Criminal record, including incarceration
Disability (physical, mental, addiction-related, intellectual or developmental)
Experience of homelessness or housing instability
Limited English proficiency

Disability: A Common Barrier to Employment

A disability is a common barrier to employment. Many disagree on the definition of disability, and hold misconceptions or prejudices about people who have disabilities. Our parent organization, The DPI Group, was founded with a focus on employing people with disabilities. It remains one of the barriers we focus on today.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a disability as:

a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
a record of such an impairment
or being regarded as having such an impairment

Note how broad this definition is. It also includes many invisible disabilities that you can’t see by looking at someone. Many disabilities DO NOT impact an individual’s willingness and ability to work, or performance. And many people with disabilities don’t require accommodations.

Below are some conditions that may qualify as disabilities:

Bipolar disorder
Blindness
Cancer
Cerebral palsy
Epilepsy
Intellectual disability
Major depression
Missing limbs
Mobility impairment
Multiple sclerosis
Muscular dystrophy
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Schizophrenia

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it does show the wide diversity of conditions that may be considered disabilities. We encourage you to understand that a disability is just one part of who a person is, and doesn’t define what they can or cannot do.