Systematizing knowledge on training applied to disability management: a scoping review

Training is a human resource management practice aimed at empowering people and enabling to thoroughly accomplish their job. It is especially relevant when it is targeted to employees living with disability. Alongside providing them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to partake in organisational activities, training sets the conditions for workplace inclusiveness, facilitating the participation of people living with disabilities in organisational dynamics. Scholarly knowledge contextualising training to disability management is fragmented and poorly systematised. The study maps the extant scientific debate, framing the state of knowledge about this topic and envisioning avenues for further developments. Starting from a database consisting of 350 contributions, 20 items were selected and carefully analysed to shed light on current scholarly knowledge about training applied to disability management. Where applied to disability management, training is primarily directed at achieving workplace inclusiveness. This overarching aim is articulated in sub-goals, which involve enabling people with disability and establishing a supportive work environment. Training is targeted to people living with disability as well as to supervisors and co-workers. Manifold training approaches are available to empower people and engage them at work. A continuous learning perspective should be embraced to comprehensively address the special needs and expectations of people living with disability. Furthermore, digital technologies should be carefully exploited to advance the contents of training and overcome the barriers preventing the inclusion of disabled people at work.