I.T. Works Principal Investigator: Peter D. Blanck, Ph.D., J.D. Project Director: James L. Schmeling, J.D. Co-Investigator: Kevin M. Schartz, Ph.D., M.C.S. Co-Investigator: Robert David Dawson, Ph.D.

I.T. Works A project of the Law, Health Policy & Disability at the University of Iowa College of Law Funded by U.S. Department of Education NIDDR grant H133A011803

LHPDC The Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center is an emerging leader in law, technology, education and research. We are focused on improving the quality of life for person living with disabilities.

LHPDC Based at the University of Iowa College of Law, with a satellite office in Washington, D.C., the center concentrates on public policy and its impact on persons with disabilities, with an emphasis on employment, self-determination and self-sufficiency. For more information, visit our web site:

Definitions I.T. – information technology: computers, software, telecommunications products and services, networks, Internet and online services I.T.A.A. – Information Technology Association of America

More definitions I.T. Firm – a company that creates and sells commercial I.T. solutions to customers non-I.T. Firm – a company that uses I.T. solutions to assist in business operations but is not developing such solutions for commercial sales

Problem Research shows there is demand for, and shortage of, trained information technology (IT) workers. Research also shows the percentage of working individuals with disabilities is substantially lower than the percentage of working people without a disability.

Idea Increasing the employment of individuals with disabilities in IT-related jobs would reduce the shortage for trained IT workers and increase the employment of individuals with disabilities.

Project Goals Identify barriers to and facilitators of the hiring, retention, advancement, and wages of individuals with disabilities. Test strategies to improve hiring, retention, advancement and wages of individuals with disabilities. Provide training and disseminate research findings

Research We have developed a model incorporating environmental factors, organizational factors, attitudinal factors, and individual characteristics to predict hiring rate, advancement rate, retention rate, and wages of individuals with disabilities. Based on Harlan Hahn’s (2000) socio-political theory of the integration of individuals with disabilities into society

Research Model

Environmental Factors Accessible transportation Accessible housing Health care needs Economic forces

Organizational Factors Corporate culture Accommodations provided Availability of assistive and accessible technology

Attitudinal Factors Attitudes and experiences of human resource (HR) personnel Attitudes and experiences of IT trainers Attitudes and experiences of co-workers

Individual Characteristics Age Gender Ethnicity Education Socioeconomic status Social support network Health status Disability I.T. experience

Outcome Variables Hiring rate Advancement rate Retention rate Wages Hours worked Training Effectiveness

Research Question Is the availability of assistive technology in an organization related to the advancement of individuals with disabilities within the organization?

Research Question Are organizations that are aware of issues related to the employment of individuals with disabilities more successful in hiring, retaining, and advancing individuals with disabilities?

Research Question Are organizations with senior management who individually are aware of the needs of individuals with disabilities more successful in hiring, retaining, and advancing individuals with disabilities?

Research Question Are companies that provide and encourage the use of assistive and accessible technology and follow-up with appropriate training and evaluation more successful in hiring, retaining, and advancing individuals with disabilities?

Research Question Are organizations with larger budgets for assistive and accessible technology more successful in hiring, retaining, and advancing individuals with disabilities?

Research Question Are individual differences among individuals with disabilities a determining factor regarding the hiring, retaining, and advancing of individuals with disabilities?

Research Question Are organizations with mentoring/internship programs for individuals with disabilities more successful at hiring, retaining, and advancing individuals with disabilities?

Methodology A five-year longitudinal approach will identify trends in these measures over time. Case studies, descriptive statistics, and multivariate regression analyses will be performed on the outcome measures to assess the influences of predictor measures, in combination and alone

Methodology We will survey and interview: –human resource managers at IT and non-IT companies (defined by Information Technology Association of America), –individuals with disabilities working at these companies, –individuals with disabilities who graduated from Federally funded IT training and employment programs, –directors of these IT training programs, and –IT trainers

Target Audiences Training activities will allow for the distribution of the research findings to the diverse target audiences: –employers –IT trainers and professionals –persons with disabilities in diverse employment settings –other researchers –relevant policymakers –IT training certification bodies –human resource managers –community colleges and university continuing education programs

Target Audiences, cont. –Centers for Independent Living and other disability-related organizations –Training and dissemination strategies used to reach these audiences will include: –trade association and conference breakout sessions –conference presentations –publications –webcasts –audio conferences –self-paced online distance learning courses –online listservs

Current Activities Literature Review/Meta-analysis of attitudes research Annotated bibliography of research on employment issues for individuals with a disability Compiling a list of online resources Survey instrument development Links to these items will be available on the project web site as they are developed.