DISABLED DOESN'T MEAN UNABLE - Part 1
Resources For Disabled Jobseekers
We have all heard the saying ignorance is bliss. The reality is far from it. For those who are faced with physical and cognitive disabilities, the job search process can be down right cruel. That is because of the lack of understanding that the majority of people who aren't disabled have for what it means to be disabled or how to deal with it entirely. A second problem that is underlying the ignorance is fear. So many are terrified by even the mention of the word disabled. Many can't imagine what they would do if they were disabled, to the point where they remark that "life for me would be over if something happens and I end up in a wheelchair." Let's be honest with ourselves. The majority of us who are not disabled can agree that when it comes to this issue, we do not have a very good comprehension of the struggles and stigma that are unfairly placed on those among us who have to live with a disability. So much more need to be done in our country to close this gap.
Physical and cognitive disabilities shouldn’t stop you from a successful job search. Whether you're dealing with a vision or hearing impairment, or some other physical or cognitive limitation; arthritis, perhaps, or PTSD, disability can add special challenges to finding a job. To help those with a disability search for a job, here is a selection of Information, resources and websites.
Job Search Websites & Job Training Resources
AbilityLinks: Nationwide, web-based community where qualified job seekers with disabilities and inclusive employers meet and gain access to valuable networking opportunities. Online virtual job fairs.
Bender Consulting Services: Mission is to recruit and hire people with disabilities for competitive career opportunities in the public and private sectors.
Career Opportunities to Students with Disabilities (COSD): Uniquely serves college students with disabilities. Career Gateway system for students to search for job postings and for employers to post jobs.
Dreamers Merchants Coffee Company: Working to increase the employment rate of individuals with a disability.
Enable America: Works to help people with disabilities find jobs. Has a jobs board of various openings, from all over the country, which companies are able to post and job seekers can apply for.
Getting Hired: A recruitment solution dedicated to helping inclusive employers hire professional individuals and veterans with disabilities.
Hire Disability Solutions LLC: Committed to work for people with disabilities. Provide career services, post resume, search for jobs, access to resources for self employment.
HirePotential: Focuses solely on the employment of people with disabilities, mature workers and veterans while working with companies and employers to provide services, education and resources on accommodations and accessibility.
NIB CareersWithVision®: Employment resource created in collaboration with AFB CareerConnect® to serve people who are blind and seeking employment with NIB associated nonprofit agencies.
Learn How To Become: Information about navigating the path to employment as a person with a disability, and about how to evaluate an employer’s standards of accessibility, accommodation and acceptance in order to find the right career fit.
Federal Disability Employment Resources
USAJobs: Application portal for career opportunities within the federal government. Of special interest to job seekers with disabilities, use this site in conjunction with the Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC) directory. The directory lists the SPPC contact, which helps to recruit, hire and accommodate people with disabilities within each government agency. The SPPC will be able to connect people with disabilities to jobs posted in the USA Jobs website.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): Provides extensive list of employment resources, benefits information, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, health, housing, technology and transportation for people with disabilities.
U.S. Department of Education (DOED): Published variety of guidebooks that provide a range of explanations, further information and resources on a variety of disability services, including legal and policy definitions about eligibility.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Offers a range of toolkits and resources for people with disabilities looking to start their own business and connects individuals to financial information regarding starting a business.
State Level Employment Resources
State Apprenticeship Information: All 50 states offer a wide range of apprenticeship programs leading to meaningful careers and credentials. Because of the new workforce law, all of these programs now are legally open and accessible for job seekers with disabilities.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Offices: Find a list of each state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Office, the contact information of the point person and links to website with further information and resources specific to each state and their unique employment services for people with disabilities.
Ticket to Work Program: Ticket to Work is a free and voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work, get a good job that may lead to a career and become financially independent, all while keeping their Medicare or Medicaid. Individuals who receive Social Security benefits because of a disability and are age 18 through 64 probably already qualify for the program.
Working While Disabled: How We Can Help: The Social Security Administration offers this pamphlet to guide people who receive disability benefits on employment and employment issues. There are discussions about how to keep benefits and have a job.
Look For The Next Of This Two Part Series DISABLED DOESN'T MEAN UNABLE - Part 2
It will provide disabled job seekers with the techniques and helpful information to navigate the process of finding a job.
Thanks for the information it's sad but true, I myself have not gotten a few jobs because they notice I'm missing 2 fingers, I can still do anything any body else can do, I have to hide my hand in order for them to hire me
Thank you Patrick for such an enlightening an informative post.This should make everyone take a step back and be grateful for the abilities that we have.Good luck and God bless!
Very interesting information. I would also like to add that the majority of people possess some type of handicap that are undetected and the learning abilities for most can be frustrating. Many people don't talk about it because as an adult it is embarrassing to either talk to someone about it or don't know how can they get help. Although my comment does not appear to be relative to your information, I find that NOT being able to keep or find a job, hinder us from progressing in our living circumstances. So to all I say don't be afraid to get help whichever possible way that may be at reach. For many of us just by being a member of Jobcase is a huge step to reaching out. Let us not forget of those less fortunate that don't have these tools by remembering our handicaps in many occasions when we needed assistance. Pay it forward with a kind gesture because regardless of our own personal impediments, everyone is born with a gift to share with one another, you just have to find it and focus on how to make a difference in your life with it so others can reach out too. May you find wealth this New Year and all your needs be fulfilled throughout.
Lots of information here. However having used or attempted to use some of these sites not all of them are user friendly. Also everyone please remember as of right now January 2, 2019 the the Federal Govt is in shutdown mode. Which means if you need assistance on any of the federal sites, or send emails at this time they will not be answered. I personally have noticed some, not all online applications are now asking for applicants if they do have a disability or not. The choice is ours to say yes, or no, or answer do not wish to disclose. But I personally admit that question makes me somewhat uneasy.
Yes I agree. It is very hard for person with disabilities to get a job. My daughter who is 26 years old has learning disabilities and struggled all her life to find jobs. I don't know what it is about people they just don't want to hire people they find out they have disabilities. I find this very frustrating because of the fact that these people with disabilities already faced challenges everyday without having other people put more challenges on them. There has to be people out there that will hire people with disabilities and wellness take check chance on them. To those companies that do that may God bless you. The 1X companies that don't take chances of people disabilities shame on you. You will find that people with disabilities are some of your most loyal and trusting import employees. Come on take a chance.
In this day and age all middle and lower class has fear and I do not like the term lower class but it exists. I live in Las Vegas we have are own mandate of taking care of disabled and mentally challenged we support them and will help them
I agree everyone has a disability. It a word they prefer over handicap. If you ever heard the story about how handicap became! It was a game that baseball players did to see who had to do the unwanted job. Like choosing the shortest straw. Flipping a coin.
Thank you for bringing this, I am disabled and jobless, may this help us
Bravo!!. I never realized that there are symbols denoting each type of disability. Thank you for sharing. This will help to clarify my hearing impairment with employers.
Thank you so much. Everything that I've applied for what's a degree in it even tho I have the experience. I just keep praying the Lord will open the right door for me.