The Workplace Discrimination Experiences of Americans With Disabilities: An Examination of Midwestern States

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the workplace discrimination experiences of individuals with disabilities residing in the Midwest by exploring their allegations filed under Title I of the ADA from 1992 through 2016. Objective: The goals of this article are to describe region- and state-level patterns in workplace discrimination and to provide valuable information to stakeholders to better understand and address the issues within their respective areas of practice. Methods: Using population level data of every available closed discrimination allegation filed under Title I of the ADA from its effectuation (January 26, 1992) through the most recent available data (December 31, 2016), descriptive statistics were obtained for each state within the Midwest for each of the five specific research questions. Data for each state represent the overall frequencies and proportions for each state and are presented in the context of their respective national and regional rankings for comparison purposes. Results: Results for each state for each variable of consideration (i.e., allegation, CP disability type, prongs allegations, discrimination allegation type, and merit closures) are presented in tables for ease of comparison. Next steps and suggested questions for discussion are presented.