Factors affecting the employment of persons with disabilities and their relationship Some variables as perceived by specialists

The study aims to explore the factors affecting the employment of people with disabilities from specialists’ perspective, and its relationship to some variables, such as; gender, specialty, place of work, and educational level. Study sample includes 210 specialists in special education and the employment of persons with disabilities, who work in governmental, private, and civil sectors in Riyadh and Mecca. Study instrument includes two parts (developed by the researcher): the first part includes general information about study sample, and the second part includes five dimensions that consist of 43 items, represent factors that affect employment. By using descriptive, comparative method, and statistical methods like the mean, standard deviation (t) test and Kruskal Wallis. Study results showed that the factors affecting the employment of persons with disabilities from specialists’ perspective are: perception of employment importance, rehabilitation and training of persons with disabilities, the family, work environment, and the person with disability. The results showed also that there are no differences in specialists’ perception of the factors affecting the employment of persons with disabilities according to study variables, With the exception of the gender variable in the first dimension (perception of employment importance) , and the second dimension (the person with disability, and the total score of the questionnaire . As for the most eligible class for employment, persons with kinetic disability came first in eligibility for employment, then persons with hearing disability, persons with intellectual disability and autism, and lastly persons with visual disability. The study provided some recommendations that help persons and employees in considering these factors to facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities and have access to work environments.