Disability and Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Methodology

Using desktop research as a method of this enquiry, the authors survey official statistical data produced by the US and UK authorities extracting information relevant to disabled people’s employment in STEM professions and disabled students enrolled in STEM degree programs. The authors also examine official reports that contain relevant information about disabled people and STEM and draw on the disabled STEM professionals’ testimonies in order to ascertain that disabled people do indeed encounter specific difficulties whilst trying to pursue STEM careers, begin to understand the nature of those difficulties and evaluate future prospects for disabled people’s participation in STEM occupations. (Reaney, Gorra & Hassan, 2011)