A new survey of state workers in Connecticut focuses on the experiences of state employees with disabilities.
Of the 15,378 state workers who participated in the anonymous online survey, seven percent said they had a disability.
But 11 percent preferred not to answer the question at all, leading to speculation that the percentage of state employees with a disability may be even higher than seven percent.
"There's always been a certain stigma around self-identifying that you have a disability," said Jonathan Slifka, Governor Dannel Malloy's Liaison to the Disability Community. "There is a fear that you might be discriminated against, or unfairly treated in some sort of way, or that it would be a hindrance to advancement."
Slifka said the survey had some encouraging news for the disability community. Eight in 10 respondents are aware of the procedure for filing a complaint about workplace discrimination, and nearly the same number are aware that the state website publicizes that Americans with Disabilities Act policy.
Nearly 80 percent of those who acknowledged their disability in the survey said they had told their employer about it. But the survey revealed a disparity between workers who reported their disability to a manager and those who did not when it comes to job satisfaction.
For example, workers who did not disclose their disability were more satisfied with their jobs, and their interactions with other co-workers, than people who had disclosed their disability.
Slifka said it's important to find out why self-reported employees with a disability are less happy at their jobs than those who did not self- report.
"They could be having issues with accommodations, there's certainly a number of buildings where accessibility on a number of levels is a challenge," Slifka said. "It's definitely eye-opening, and certainly something the Governor's Committee [on Employment of People with Disabilities] will definitely take a look at."
The survey also looked at the type of disabilities reported by state employees.
- Physical (i.e. spinal cord injury, amputation): 45 percent
- Mental health: 18 percent
- Hearing: 11 percent
- Visual: 6 percent
- Developmental: 5 percent
- Brain injury: 1 percent
- Other: 14 percent
Slifka said the survey will serve as a baseline and a roadmap as his office works on policy to help address the needs and challenges of employees with disabilities, both in the public and private sector.
