title: Telework rationale and implementation for people with disabilities: considerations for employer policymaking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telework has been promoted as a viable workplace accommodation for people with disabilities since the 1990s, when information and communication technologies (ICT) had developed sufficiently to facilitate its widespread adoption. This initial research and accompanying policy recommendations were prescriptive in nature and frequently aimed at employers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article adds to existing policy models for facilitating successful telework outcomes for people with disabilities. Drawing upon two studies by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Workplace Accommodations, we expound on employee-side considerations in the implementation of telework.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our policy model utilizes established typologies for policy evaluation to develop a process model that considers rationales and implementation factors for telework among people with physical disabilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telework may be used as an accommodation for disability, but employee rationales for telework are more complex, involving work-life balance, strategies for pain and fatigue not formally recognized as disability, and expediency in travel and transportation. Implementation of telework as a component of workplace operations is similarly multifaceted, involving non-technology accommodations to realize job restructuring left incomplete by telework.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our model grounds new empirical research in this area. We also renew our call for additional research on effective telework practices for people with disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bricout
authors.affiliation: Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul M A
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011050:Policy Making; D011788:Quality of Life; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Employment; work environment; workplace accommodation