In a comprehensive examination of employer practices regarding workers with disabilities, researchers conducted surveys in 2017 and 2022, revealing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on supervisor perspectives. The Kessler Foundation's study found that the pandemic led to changes in various aspects of workplace practices, including a substantial increase in remote work and accommodation policies. The comparison between the two survey results shed light on shifts in the use and effectiveness of recruitment, onboarding, accommodation, and retention practices, offering valuable insights for employers seeking to improve their support for employees with disabilities.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employer practices and supervisor perspectives regarding workers with disabilities, as revealed through the Kessler Foundation's 2017 and 2022 surveys.
• Identify the key challenges and limitations of previous employer practice surveys in addressing disability employment issues and the need for actionable information to bridge the employment gap.
• Explore changes in the use and effectiveness of specific recruitment, onboarding, accommodation, and retention practices between 2017 and 2022, and how organizational characteristics and practices influence the employment of people with disabilities.