This paper is an empirical study on the work opportunities of people with disability
using Italian data collected through a survey carried out by ISTAT in 2004. Our analysis
is guided by the conceptual framework of the capability approach and investigates the
role of conversion factors in the ability to be employed and the type of employment.
We rst use a simple probit for labour force participation and then a sequential logit
for the outcomes of participation as well as employment status. In all variants we nd
that chronic illness is a stronger deterrent for labour force participation than disability.
Women are more discouraged by disability compared to men. Among the various types of
disabilities, `intellectual' disability is the strongest barrier as can be expected and hearing
the least in
uential. In a sequential decision-making process, we nd that disability
a ects both labour force participation decision and the ability to be employed but not so
much the choice between part-time and full-time
