Book Description
Hispanics with physical disability and limited English proficiency are faced with many barriers to employment including acculturation, stigma, discrimination, and language competence. With a small amount of data shed on this population, very little is known about the ways they experience employment services and their employment outcomes. This qualitative study explored barriers to employment as experienced by Hispanics with physical disability and limited English proficiency. The study aimed to address the lack of information and identify barriers to employment through the eyes of Hispanics with a physical disability and whose primary language is Spanish. A qualitative research design involving in depth, structured face-to-face interviews was utilized and data was collected in El Paso, Texas, a city located at the intersection of three states and two countries with one of the nation's largest Hispanic populations. Participants recruited for this study were of Mexican-American descent whose primary language is Spanish and have a physical disability. The research question explored their experiences and challenges while they were either seeking or sustaining employment. Bronfenbrenner's Theory Ecological Systems Model and Racial Identity Model were applied as conceptual frameworks to understand the environmental and race/ethnicity background and findings within a historical and social context. A thematic analysis was used to identify themes and analyze the experiences of eight participants. Findings of the research indicate that most participants felt their disabilities did not affect their ability to work and their limited English proficiency was a larger barrier in completing applications, interviewing, and completing their work tasks.
