Some persons with disabilities cannot work, and some find the costs of working greater than the potential benefits. An individual with C5-6 quadraplegia, for example, might take two or three hours to get ready for work in the morning, and another two hours to get ready for bed in the evening. An attendant might be hired to help with these activities, but this solution is expensive and represents an intrusion into personal and family privacy. Depending on the vocational options available, the person may not find it feasible to work. Nevertheless, many with disabilities would like to work but can't because they need job modifications in order to work successfully, or because of attitudes held by their employers, families, or communities.
Attitudinal barriers are often the primary barriers to employment.
Persons unfamiliar with disability and employment consistently underestimate the capacity of those with disabilities to work productively.