Author: Shayn R. Anderson
(Paperback, 92 pages)

The Disability Factor is a perfect little “primer” for people who are new to working with, or providing services to people with disabilities. In five concise chapters, it lays out basic ground rules and insights for effectively interacting with people with disabilities in a working relationship.

From lawyers to beauticians, from career counselors to retail clerks… for any professional or businessperson dealing with people with disabilities on a regular or occasional basis, The Disability Factor dispels anxiety and lays a foundation for developing effective working relationships.

Chapter Titles in The Disability Factor: 

Tool One:        Understanding Disability in General

Tool Two:        Communication and the Relationship

Tool Three:      Understanding Specific Disability Issues

Tool Four:        Leveraging the Appointment Structure

Tool Five:         Making it Through Rough Spots

This isn’t a technical manual. Rather, it is written in an easy-to-read conversational style - full of the author’s personal anecdotes, observations, and reflections.

“I wrote this book to give people practical tips not expert advice. I write this having been on both sides of the desk. I am a proud professional who also happens to have a disability. Whether you have no experience, little experience, or solid experience working with people with disabilities, this book will give you history, perspective and concrete tools to more effectively communicate and work with them.”
– from the Author, Shayn Anderson

As people with disabilities are increasingly served by generic (rather than “special”) institutions and service organizations, as people with disabilities increasingly assert their buying power as consumers in the marketplace, and as people with disabilities show up in greater numbers in our workplaces; service providers, retailers and coworkers are all going to greatly benefit from the kind of basic knowledge that The Disability Factor communicates.