HIDDEN BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNICATION SECTOR

The incorporation of people with disabilities into the workplace is challenging for both employers and employees. Some studies have analysed access to the workplace by people with disabilities, but only a scant amount of research has focused on the development and promotion of people with disabilities in the workplace. The aim of the study herein is to analyse the hidden barriers to the promotion of people with disabilities in the field of communication. To accomplish the objective, four focus groups composed of seven to ten workers in the field of communication with various positions in the company's hierarchy have been conducted, including workers with and without disabilities. The software known as ATLAS. ti 9 has been used to process the data. The results indicate a disproportionate percentage of people with disabilities in positions of lesser authority. This differential is even greater for women and those with discernible non-physical disabilities. The study concludes that there is vertical segregation, and that in order to break this glass ceiling, the skills and competencies of people with disabilities in the communication sector should be more visible, mainstreamed, and valued.