This book presents results of a major study of the policies and programs that affect whether people with disabilities take part in the Canadian labor force. It concludes that people with disabilities are excluded, not primarily because of their disability nor its severity, but rather because of barriers resulting from public policy and program arrangements. These barriers are found to fall into six groups: (1) barriers to access to training and educational opportunities; (2) the longstanding historic nature of the employment disadvantage of people with disabilities; (3) lack of access to needed disability-related supports; (4) barriers in attaining higher levels of education and training; (5) the lack of coordination of services to assist these individuals in the transition from school to work; and (6) lack of income support to meet basic and disability-related costs. A comprehensive approach to policy change is recommended, involving policies at each level of government that clearly articulate the goal of mainstream employment for people with disabilities, clear vesting of responsibility for actualizing policies, and establishment of new institutional arrangements and formal agreements to effectively coordinate efforts and resources across governmental levels and departments. Appendices describe policies and programs and present statistical tables. (DB)