8 Understanding the Complexity of Disability Stigma and its Consequences for Workers and Organizations

This chapter describes the complexity of factors that contribute to social disadvantages experienced by workers with disabilities and divergent abilities in the workplace. We highlight patterns of general stereotypes and reactions to disability, as well as perceptions that are specific to categories of differences including invisible disabilities, mental illness, and neurodivergence. We identify social, psychological, and performance-related impacts that these reactions might create for workers with disabilities. We also argue that these experiences must be considered in a larger context of factors, both within the individual (e.g., intersecting identities) and organization (e.g., climate), to better understand the variability in experiences among workers with disabilities. Finally, we offer insights from research on inclusion practices and experiences to recommend evidence-based strategies to reduce disability stigma and alleviate its negative consequences in organizations.