This project's goal is to determine the prevalence of workplace accommodations for older workers with disabilities and to evaluate the impact of these accommodations on retirement and on the risk of occupational injury. These analyses will be carried out primarily in the rich database of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS)- a longitudinal, nationally representative survey of older Americans.
The specific aims of this project are: 1. To describe the prevalence of workplace accommodations and the factors that influence the likelihood of accommodation among older workers, using the first three waves of the HRS (1992-1996). 2. To compare the prevalence of workplace accommodations and the factors that influence the likelihood of accommodation among older workers with those among younger workers, using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (1994-1995 Disability Supplement). 3. To assess changes in the rate and nature of workplace accommodations over the first decade of implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), using the first five waves of the HRS (1992-2000). 4. To determine whether workplace accommodations prolong the worklife of older workers with disabilities, using the first five waves of the HRS (1992-2000). 5. To determine whether workplace accommodations prevent occupational injuries among older workers with disabilities, using the first five waves of the HRS (1992-2000).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG016829-03
Application #
6372354
Study Section
Safety and Occupational Health Study Section (SOH)
Program Officer
Patmios, Georgeanne E
Project Start
1999-09-15
Project End
2003-07-31
Budget Start
2001-08-01
Budget End
2003-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$139,482
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
041294109
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
Zwerling, Craig; Whitten, Paul S; Sprince, Nancy L et al. (2003) Workplace accommodations for people with disabilities: National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement, 1994-1995. J Occup Environ Med 45:517-25
Zwerling, Craig; Whitten, Paul S; Sprince, Nancy L et al. (2002) Workforce participation by persons with disabilities: the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement, 1994 to 1995. J Occup Environ Med 44:358-64