Projections of Disability in the Department of Defense Workforce Through 2031: Estimating Future Assistive Technology...

The Department of Defense (DoD) requires both current and projected estimates of the size of its workforce population with specific categories of disabilities. These estimates support the requirements under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as well as the goals outlined in multiple executive orders, including Executive Order 14035, directing DoD to hire employees with disabilities and provide them with reasonable accommodations. These estimates are necessary to determine the assistive technology (AT) required and its anticipated costs through 2031. AT also furthers DoD's goals in aiding the recovery and retention of injured service members, as well as the broader DoD and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) community in aiding in the post-service employment of service members who are medically separating. Thus, the authors seek to estimate the potential demand for AT from these groups. The authors give projections of the DoD civilian employee population-and of injured and wounded service members-with specific disabilities categorized by DoD's centralized AT procurer (hearing, vision, cognitive, and dexterity disabilities), as well as the potential anticipated requests for AT by these populations and their costs between 2021 and 2031.