The Last Mile: PPE as a Critical Barrier to Healthcare Employment Pipeline for Persons with Disabilities.
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| Title: | The Last Mile: PPE as a Critical Barrier to Healthcare Employment Pipeline for Persons with Disabilities. |
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| Authors: | Schneider, Jennifer1 jlwcem@rit.edu, Pendelberry, Kristina1, Atcherson, Samuel R.2 |
| Source: | Journal of STEM Education: Innovations & Research. Apr-Jun2026, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p34-44. 11p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Employment of people with disabilities, *Legal compliance, *Affirmative action programs, *STEM occupations, Personal protective equipment, Accessible design, Medical personnel |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical gaps in personal protective equipment (PPE) accessibility, particularly for workers with disabilities in healthcare and STEM fields. While PPE is an essential component of workplace safety, its design and regulatory frameworks often fail to accommodate broad groups of workers, including workers with disabilities, thereby limiting their inclusion in these high-growth sectors. This paper examines PPE as the "last mile" of the employment pipeline for disabled workers, and analyzes barriers created by ill-fitting, non-inclusive PPE. This research explores the implications of existing barriers across the PPE ecosystem, highlights the need to expand accessibility, and proposes a framework for inclusive PPE design which maximizes safety, comfort, and usability for all workers. Through a review of regulatory policies, employment statistics, and PPE standards, this paper shows how improving PPE inclusivity can enhance employment outcomes for society (including disabled individuals), promote workplace equity, and strengthen workforce resilience in healthcare and STEM industries in the U.S. This paper is a health policy review at the conceptual level and therefore no human or animal subjects were involved and all data discussed are publicly available in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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