This study aimed to examine the health of workers with disabilities, which has not been the subject of policy consideration in both the labor and health domains, from the perspective of lifecourse epidemiology. To this end, life histories of seven dwo...
This study aimed to examine the health of workers with disabilities, which has not been the subject of policy consideration in both the labor and health domains, from the perspective of lifecourse epidemiology. To this end, life histories of seven dworkers with disabilities were collected and analyzed by applying Mandelbaum’s (1973) life history methodology. The results are as follows. First, in the ‘domain’, the participants faced direct barriers in the labor market or healthcare system. This not only worsened their health, but also contributed to disability discrimination and attitudes that they had to deal with their health problems alone. Second, disability discrimination in the labor market, and the establishment of legislation to promote labor market participation for people with disabilities since the 2010s, was a personal and social ‘turning point’ that changed their attitudes towards disability and work. Finally, despite the deterioration of their health, the participants were able to reorganize their life strategies, recover through work, and maintain homeostasis in their lives. Based on the results, it was recommended that the health care system for people with disabilities be effectively reorganized, that the social care system for children with disabilities be expanded, and that specific support be provided for workers with disabilities who suffer both disability and health problems.