Left Behind: The Employment Crisis Facing Persons with Disabilities in South Africa

Why, despite decades of legislation, quotas, and incentives, do persons with disabilities in South Africa remain excluded from meaningful work?

Left Behind presents original nationwide research into the employment crisis facing persons with disabilities. Using a mixed methods approach that combines survey findings with qualitative insights, the book uncovers systemic barriers in recruitment, workplace access, and education. It shows how discrimination and weak policy implementation intersect with race, gender, geography, and socioeconomic status to shape outcomes. Through rigorous analysis and the voices of those directly affected, it exposes why existing measures fall short and what must change to achieve real inclusion.

Ideal reading for students of Disability Studies, African Studies, Human Resource Management, Anthropology, Sociology, and related courses, this will also be of interest to practitioners and trainees in social work, employment policy, and parasocial support.

1147888399
Left Behind: The Employment Crisis Facing Persons with Disabilities in South Africa

Why, despite decades of legislation, quotas, and incentives, do persons with disabilities in South Africa remain excluded from meaningful work?

Left Behind presents original nationwide research into the employment crisis facing persons with disabilities. Using a mixed methods approach that combines survey findings with qualitative insights, the book uncovers systemic barriers in recruitment, workplace access, and education. It shows how discrimination and weak policy implementation intersect with race, gender, geography, and socioeconomic status to shape outcomes. Through rigorous analysis and the voices of those directly affected, it exposes why existing measures fall short and what must change to achieve real inclusion.

Ideal reading for students of Disability Studies, African Studies, Human Resource Management, Anthropology, Sociology, and related courses, this will also be of interest to practitioners and trainees in social work, employment policy, and parasocial support.

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Left Behind: The Employment Crisis Facing Persons with Disabilities in South Africa

Left Behind: The Employment Crisis Facing Persons with Disabilities in South Africa

Left Behind: The Employment Crisis Facing Persons with Disabilities in South Africa

Left Behind: The Employment Crisis Facing Persons with Disabilities in South Africa

Overview

Why, despite decades of legislation, quotas, and incentives, do persons with disabilities in South Africa remain excluded from meaningful work?

Left Behind presents original nationwide research into the employment crisis facing persons with disabilities. Using a mixed methods approach that combines survey findings with qualitative insights, the book uncovers systemic barriers in recruitment, workplace access, and education. It shows how discrimination and weak policy implementation intersect with race, gender, geography, and socioeconomic status to shape outcomes. Through rigorous analysis and the voices of those directly affected, it exposes why existing measures fall short and what must change to achieve real inclusion.

Ideal reading for students of Disability Studies, African Studies, Human Resource Management, Anthropology, Sociology, and related courses, this will also be of interest to practitioners and trainees in social work, employment policy, and parasocial support.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781915271884
Publisher: Lived Places Publishing
Publication date: 11/26/2025
Series: Disability Studies
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook

About the Author

Liändrie Steffens is a research and data analyst from South Africa with a passion for disability inclusion. Living with a visual impairment herself, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. Her research focuses on uncovering systemic barriers and driving evidence-based solutions that promote equity and meaningful inclusion for persons with disabilities in the labour market.


Dr Damian Mellifont is a neurodivergent researcher who leads and contributes to studies that advance the economic and social inclusion of people with disability. Damian is a member of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy (CDRP) leadership team at The University of Sydney and head of the Lived Experience Research Lab. Damian has been an active member of the Centre over the last 5 years, with extensive prior experience in government policy analysis and evaluation. Damian strongly advocates for the disability inclusion mantra of, ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ to be consistently applied to research about disability.


Dr Jen Smith-Merry is Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney, Australia. The Centre for Disability Research and Policy produces collaborative research that actively influences policy and practice to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia and the Asia-Pacific and create a better life for people with disability around the world. Jen strongly believes that academic research, policy and service design should be led by people with disability. Jen has published over 100 academic and policy papers and policy focused research has led to significant structural reforms for disability policy in Australia.

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