An aging population means that more people will develop disabilities during their worklives. New medical technologies are saving lives that would have been lost, but leaving people with lifelong impairments. Computer technologies have opened up new job opportunities never before possible for the disabled. Employers, especially in areas with labor shortages, are beginning to look more seriously at this segment of the work force. Many have found them to be an extremely loyal and productive group.
Research suggests that most accommodations are relatively inexpensive.
Even when more expensive high-tech adaptations are needed, many companies feel they are worthwhile because they increase the productivity of valuable employees. These numbers don't explicitly include those with mental retardation or illness, although some people have both physical and mental impairments. While people are born with certain disabilities like cerebral palsy, other impairments often develop later, such as vision problems or arthritis. The inability to walk may be congenital, but it could also be the result of a car accident. At any point during the course of a person's work life, he or she could become impaired.