'Just because you can get a wheelchair in the building doesn't necessarily mean that you can still participate': barriers to the career advancement of disabled professionals

Authors: Wilson-Kovacs, Dana¹; Ryan, Michelle²; Haslam, S. Alexander²; Rabinovich, Anna²

Source: Disability & Society, Volume 23, Number 7, December 2008 , pp. 705-717(13)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Despite governmental efforts and organizational initiatives, the number of disabled professionals in full-time employment is small, and the number of those occupying leadership positions remains even smaller. Past research into disability and employment has outlined a range of barriers that disabled people face in seeking and maintaining employment. Yet, not enough is known about the challenges they encounter in top ranking appointments. This article extends Ryan's and Haslam's notion of the glass cliff to help explain the precariousness experienced by a group of disabled employees in leadership positions - focusing on the nature of the positions they hold and the difficulties they encounter as they attempt to advance their careers. Using qualitative interview data the analysis draws attention to problems associated with lack of opportunity, lack of resources and lack of support. It also point to ways of making workplace cultures and organizational practices more supportive of diversity.

Keywords: disability; glass cliff; precariousness; leadership

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09687590802469198

Affiliations: 1: Department of Sociology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK 2: School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

Publication date: 2008-12-01

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