The article in The Scientist by Neeraja Sankaran (March 7, 1994, page 3) discussing a report on the "composition of the United States work force" by the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology (CPST) completely ignores the presence of people with disabilities in the science and technology work force. This deficiency may be a reflection not on the author, but rather on the state of affairs in science and technology professions.
Unfortunately, it is not at all uncommon to ignore people with disabilities throughout the science, engineering, and technology communities.
There are some 43 million people with disabilities, with some 100,000 employed in the scientific work force (as compared with some 85,000 African American scientists). People with disabilities have been recognized for years as an underrepresented group in science, engineering, and technology.
Even with the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, it is difficult for The Scientist/ educator ...
