In today’s globalized economy, Employment and Workforce Development are key, intertwined policy issues. A well-prepared science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce contributes to continued competitiveness, for individuals, industries, and whole economies. Development of individuals with these capabilities requires investments in K-12 and postsecondary education, advanced training, and skills development, as well as supporting digital technologies. There also is a need for enabling networks and nodes of knowledge to support the end “users” – labs, research institutions, high tech employers, and the public sector.
A particular focus of our research is on generating insights into barriers and opportunities for increasing participation in STEM fields for people with disabilities. These results are used to develop policy approaches which better enable the match between employers needs and preparation of skilled and highly educated workforces. We also undertake empirical research into interventions and supports for persistence and completion of STEM education and transition into employment.
Notable Projects
2016 Connected Technologies: An Accessibility Overview for Employers provides an overview of
- The range of connected technologies available to people with disabilities
- Currently available applications to assist people with disabilities in the workplace
- Challenges and opportunities to increase connected technology usage in the workplace
Science of Broadening Participation 2.0: Inclusive Stem Workforces
- Veterans Innovation Network
- Policy Paper: A Research Agenda for the Science of Broadening Participation: STEM Employment of Individuals with DisabilitieS
Georgia Tech’s Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation (CIDI) has been awarded a $4.3 million, 5-year project to help people with physical disabilities succeed in the workplace. The project, the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Accommodations, Employment Supports and Success for People with Physical Disabilities (ACCESS-PD), will study the employment experiences of people with physical disabilities such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, arthritis, or low back pain. CACP’s Salimah LaForce and Dr. Nathan Moon are project directors and co-investigators on multiple projects within ACCESS-PD. For more information on the projects, go to the ACCESS-PD website.