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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)

ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue IV, April 2026

Web-Based Digital Portal for Person with Disabilities (PWD)

Employment Opportunities

Christian Paul O. Cruz

, Kyle G. De Guzman

, Monica A. Dona

, Pheomela R. Donato

, Kristine Joy C.

Mallanao

Information Technology, Pangasinan State University, Alaminos City Campus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150400013

Received: 04 April 2026; Accepted 09 April 2026; Published: 02 May 2026

ABSTRACT

Persons with Disabilities in Alaminos City face significant challenges in securing employment due to limited

access to job opportunities and reliance on manual, inefficient referral processes. This study developed a web-

based job portal to bridge this gap, providing a centralized and accessible platform that directly connects Persons

with Disabilities job seekers with potential employers. The system was designed to streamline the job search and

hiring process, promoting inclusivity and empowering Persons with Disabilities to independently pursue suitable

employment. The project utilized the Rapid Application Development methodology, emphasizing iterative

prototyping and continuous user feedback to ensure the platform effectively addressed user needs. The developed

portal features distinct user levels for Persons with Disabilities job seekers and PDAO administrators, facilitating

profile creation, job posting, application management, and administrative oversight. Findings indicate that the

portal successfully addresses the inefficiencies of the traditional employment referral system. User evaluations

confirmed the system's high levels of usability, functionality, and reliability, establishing it as a very acceptable

solution. The platform enhances the job-seeking experience for PWDs while providing employers with a

streamlined tool for inclusive hiring. In conclusion, the web-based portal offers a sustainable digital solution that

fosters greater employment equity for PWDs in Alaminos City. It is recommended for adoption by the PDAO to

enhance their employment facilitation services. Future enhancements could include integrating assistive

technologies and developing a mobile application to further expand accessibility and reach.

Keywords: employment, digital portal, person with disability

INTRODUCTION

Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) face significant challenges in securing employment due to social stigma,

accessibility barriers, and limited job opportunities. The global unemployment rate among PWDs remains

disproportionately high, making employment accessibility a critical issue (United Nation, 2021)

[9]

Globally, an estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world's population, live with disabilities. Of this number,

approximately 785 million individuals or 80% are of working age (Word Health Organization, 2023)

[10]

However, a significant proportion of the main unemployed are due to discrimination, inadequate skill

development, and inaccessible work environments. In low-income nations, roughly 80% of PWDs rely on

government assistance, with their official unemployment rate being at least twice that of individuals without

disabilities (United Nations, 2021)

[9]

The digital era has transformed job recruitment through online job portals and social media platforms, making

job postings more accessible worldwide. Traditional job-seeking methods such as newspaper advertisements,

employment agencies, and personal networks have been supplemented or replaced by digital job platforms that

optimize recruitment and hiring processes (Indeed, 2024)

[5]

Online job portals serve as bridges between job seekers and employers, offering job listings, resume uploads,

application tracking, and remote interview capabilities. These platforms provide PWDs with expanded job

opportunities and help employers connect with qualified candidates more efficiently (Ahmed et al., 2024)

[1]

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Despite advances in digital employment solutions, people with disabilities (PWDs) continue to encounter

challenges to job access due to social stigma, inaccessible digital interfaces, and limited inclusive employment

programs (Lashari et al., 2022)

[7]

. Research also indicates that PWDs often struggle with self-confidence as a

result of social stigma and insufficient career development support, which negatively affects their job-seeking

efforts (Dispenza, 2021)

[4]

. Digital innovations, such as web-based employment platforms, assist in connecting

people with disabilities with potential employers and promoting a more inclusive employment opportunities

(Samonte et al., 2024)

[8]

. Furthermore, incorporating computer-based learning into skills training programs

boosts digital literacy and increases job chances for persons with disabilities (Bansal et al., 2024)

[2]

However, this study had several limitations. The system primarily focused on job-matching functionalities and

did not support real-time video interviews. Users without internet access were unable to use the platform, as it

was entirely web-based. Additionally, the study did not specifically accommodate visually impaired individuals,

since features like screen reader compatibility and other assistive technologies were not included in the project’s

scope.

The authors aim to address significant challenges of finding job of the persons with disability, through design

and development of the job portal, will provide easy access to finding and applying a job online for PWDs

inclusively.

METHODOLOGY

This project uses the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model because it makes software development

faster and more flexible (GeeksforGeeks, 2025)

[6]

, which is crucial for satisfying the changing needs of PWDs

and associated stakeholders. The RAD has four phases which is requirements planning, user design, construction,

and cutover. Figure 1 shows the RAD model.

Figure 1. Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model

Source:https://medium.com/@chathmini96/agile-methodology-30ec4cdf3fc

Requirements Planning Phase. This initial phase focused on defining the project’s scope, objectives, and specific

user needs. The proponents conducted interviews and surveys with key stakeholders in Alaminos City, including

officers from the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), PWD job seekers, and local employers. This

process helped identify the inefficiencies in the current manual job-referral system and established the core

functional and accessibility requirements for the portal.

User Design Phase. During this phase, initial system prototypes and interface mockups were created using

Figma. These designs were presented to PWD users and stakeholders for feedback. Through an iterative process

of review and revision, the user interface was refined to ensure it was intuitive, accessible, and tailored to the

needs of users with various disabilities, incorporating features like adjustable text size and high-contrast modes.

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Construction Phase. The functional system was built in this phase using a Three-Tier Architecture (Presentation,

Application, and Data Layers). The Presentation Layer (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) provided the accessible user

interface. The Application Layer, developed with PHP and the Laravel framework, handled core logic like user

authentication, job matching, and application processing. The Data Layer, managed via MySQL, stored all user

profiles, job listings, and application data. Development and initial testing were performed in a local environment

using XAMPP and Visual Studio Code.

Cutover Phase. The completed system was deployed to a live web environment. Final integration and user

acceptance testing were conducted with 19 respondents, comprising 17 PWD job seekers and 2 IT experts in

Alaminos City. Training sessions and demonstrations were provided to ensure users could navigate the portal

effectively.

Primary data were gathered through surveys, interviews, and usability tests targeting PWD job seekers and

employers in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. A purposive sampling method was used, resulting in 19 respondents

for system evaluation. Secondary data from journals, government reports, and existing literature supported the

analysis of employment challenges and digital solutions for PWDs.

The research study was conducted in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The key participants who provided essential

data for this study were identified through purposive sampling. These respondents included Persons with

Disabilities (PWD) job seekers and IT experts, as illustrated in Table 1 below

Table 1. Respondents of the Study

Respondents

Number of Respondents

PWD job seekers

IT Experts

Total Respondents

To effectively evaluate the level of acceptability and overall performance of the Web-Based Digital Portal for

Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Employment Opportunities, the proponents utilized a five-point Likert scale.

This standardized measurement tool allowed for the systematic and objective assessment of user feedback by

enabling respondents to indicate their level of agreement or satisfaction with the portal’s features, usability,

accessibility, and overall performance. Table 2 shows the scale of measurement.

Table 2. Scale of Measurement

Scale

Statistical Limits

Rating

1.00-1.80

Strongly Disagree

1.81-2.60

Disagree

2.61-3.40

Fair

3.41-4.20

Agree

4.21-5.00

Strongly Agree

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Web-Based Digital Portal for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Employment Opportunities was developed

to address the significant challenges faced by PWD job seekers in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The existing job-

seeking process is predominantly manual, fragmented, and inefficient, relying on paper-based referrals, in-

person coordination between the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Department of Social

Welfare and Development (DSWD), and word-of-mouth communication. This process often results in delayed

job matching, limited access to suitable opportunities, and a lack of direct communication between PWDs and

employers.

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To overcome these barriers, a centralized, accessible, and user-friendly web portal was designed and

implemented. The system streamlines the entire employment process from job posting and searching to

application and tracking, specifically tailored to the needs of PWDs. The development followed the Rapid

Application Development (RAD) methodology, emphasizing iterative prototyping and continuous user feedback

to ensure the platform effectively meets user requirements.

The portal was built using a Three-Tier Architecture to ensure modularity, scalability, and maintainability. This

structure clearly separates the presentation, application logic, and data management layers, as illustrated in the

system framework in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2. System Three-Tier Architecture

Presentation Tier. This is the user interface, accessible via web browsers. It was designed with a strong emphasis

on accessibility, featuring adjustable text sizes, high-contrast modes, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and a clear layout

to accommodate users with various disabilities (e.g., visual, motor). The interface allows PWD job seekers to

browse jobs, manage profiles, and track applications easily.

Application Tier. This tier contains the core business logic. It handles user authentication, job search algorithms,

application processing, and administrative functions. Key features like job matching based on skills and

disability type, application status updates, and notification systems are managed here.

Data Tier. This tier manages all data storage using a structured database. It securely stores PWD user profiles,

employer details, job postings, application records, and training information, ensuring data integrity and efficient

retrieval.

CONCLUSION

Based on the successful development and evaluation of the Web-Based Digital Portal for Persons with

Disabilities (PWD) Employment Opportunities, it can be concluded that the system effectively and efficiently

bridges the significant employment gap for PWDs in Alaminos City.

The portal has proven to be a highly acceptable and reliable digital solution, successfully addressing the

inefficiencies of the traditional manual and referral-based job-seeking process. By providing a centralized,

accessible platform, it directly connects PWD job seekers with inclusive employers, streamlining the entire

application and hiring workflow. Key strengths of the system include its user-friendly interface, robust

accessibility features such as adjustable contrast and text size, and comprehensive functionalities for profile

management, job searching, and application tracking.

Developed using the Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodology, the portal was iteratively refined

with continuous user feedback, ensuring it closely aligns with the real needs of PWD users and administrators.

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The system’s high evaluation scores across all criteria—including functionality, usability, security, and

portability, with an overall weighted mean of 4.784 (Strongly Agree)—confirm its quality, dependability, and

readiness for real-world implementation.

In summary, this web-based portal stands as a sustainable and empowering tool that promotes greater

employment equity, fosters economic independence for PWDs, and provides a modern, efficient platform for

inclusive hiring practices in the community

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