16. Disability

Disability studies oscillate between quantitative models that struggle to reach conclusions about the pre-eminence of one or other construct of organisational behaviour and qualitative studies that seek to justify one or other inclusion measure in the light of the feelings of disabled people. Taking into account the identity dimension of the mourning process could help overcome this difficulty: by adjusting to misfortune, the disabled person will have been able to unify her social and narrative identities, and will no longer perceive social support or job adaptation as discriminatory. In effect, she has given meaning to her life and avoided the malaise associated with her disability. It is possible that her contribution to the workplace is enhanced as a result. This chapter reviews the literature on disability studies and discusses the issue of grieving with regard to the organisational behaviour of disabled workers.