Symposium

Employment Disparities Faced by Refugees with Disability Living in the U.S 0564

Corresponding Presenter(s)

• 

  Mustafa Rfat, MSW/MPA

  PhD Student
  WashU
  St. Louis, Missouri, United States

  Slides

Presenter(s)

• 

  Qusay Hussein, MSSW (he/him/his)

  PhD Student
  University of Texas at Austin
  Austin, TX, United States
• 

  Mansha Mirza, Phd, OTR/L

  Associate Professor
  University of Illinois Chicago
  Chicago, IL, United States

Refugees with disabilities face compounding barriers to accessing employment programs and the labor market. We investigated the root causes of these inequalities by using qualitative community-based participatory research. In this symposium, attendees will learn about the distinct challenges refugees with disabilities experience accessing employment programs, such as the Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and community-led solutions to overcome these challenges. Attendees will also learn about the Partners of Refugees in Illinois Disability Employment (PRIDE) program. This first-of-its-kind program is designed to meet the employment needs of refugees with disabilities. 

Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion, participants will be able to discuss distinct challenges refugees with disabilities experience while accessing employment programs
• Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the importance of using participatory methods with refugees with disabilities
• Upon completion, participants will be able to define relevant policies that creates barriers for accessing services
• Completion participants will be able to explain the importance of community programs that is targeted toward refugees with disabilities (Partners of Refugees in Illinois Disability Employment)