Barriers to Employment Among People with Disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has regional influence in the Caribbean, with a diversified economy focused on energy, manufacturing, and finance compared to the tourism-related economies of most of the other Caribbean islands. Notwithstanding, this has not translated into equitable opportunities for all, specifically for people with disabilities. A lack of disaggregated employment data thwarts effective policy planning for people with disabilities. This research sought to examine the barriers to their employment in T&T. Underpinned by the social model of disability, a concurrent mixed-methods approach was employed. Emanating from interviews with people with disabilities and key informants, challenges to employment access, employer perceptions, and apathy emerged as key themes, together with the underlying issues of a lack of legislation and inequitable access to mainstream education. The survey findings indicated that 64% of employers had never employed people with disabilities, 57% expressed neutrality regarding future employment of such individuals, and 69% had not introduced workplace accommodations. A key recommendation of the study is the establishment of an employer resource centre that assists employers in creating and maintaining inclusive workplace accommodations for people with disabilities. This study is the first in Trinidad and Tobago to examine these research objectives from multiple perspectives.