Individuals with disabilities, whether physical, mental, or emotional, are the nation’s largest minority. Those who weren’t born with a disability have about a 20 percent chance of becoming disabled at some point during their work life. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of workers’ disabilities. This act mandates that any employer with 15 or more employees must provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. The ADA plays an important role in ensuring Equal Employment Opportunities for all.
As a part of Affirmative Action hiring, it is important to consider your company’s accessibility and recruitment directed toward disabled individuals. Aside from focusing your hiring efforts toward individuals with disabilities, it is also important to understand ways to help ease their transition into your office as well as your legal requirements as an employer under the ADA. The resources below are meant to educate employers on how to effectively engage, hire, and create an environment of professional growth for individuals with disabilities.
Disability Laws and Legislation
EARN: Helping Employers Hire and Retain People with Disabilities – EARN is a program of the National Employer Technical Assistance, Policy and Research Center on employment of people with disabilities. They collaborate with several national employment partners with the goal of increasing the inclusion of employees with disabilities in the workforce.
Accommodating Disabled Employees
Adult Autism and Employment – This is a useful guide that includes insights and suggestions from a national expert on autism & employment. This guide can help employers better understand the needs of employees with autism.
Job Accommodations Network – The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.
Emergency Evacuation Procedures in Assisting Persons with Disabilities – Interest in emergency evacuation planning has increased dramatically over the last decade. This publication discusses the importance of Emergency Evacuation Planning for companies employing individuals with disabilities.
Techniques for Supervising Employees with Learning Disabilities – Individuals with learning disabilities encounter difficulties at the work place which are not widely recognized. It is important for employers to understand the needs of individuals with learning disabilities in order to accommodate them appropriately in the workplace.
Recruiting Young People with Disabilities – Thanks to advancements in technology, young people with disabilities can do virtually any job that someone without a disability can perform. Expanding your workplace to include young people with and without disabilities is a positive way to help shape the future workforce-and benefit your business.
Disability Hiring
Ability Jobs – ABILITYJobs is the leading website dedicated to employment of people with disabilities. It is the largest resume bank with tens of thousands of job seekers with disabilities, from entry level candidates to PhD’s – if your company is looking for talent you’ve come to the right place.
Workforce Recruitment Programs – The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP) is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal sector employers nationwide with highly motivated undergraduate students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
AbilityOne – The AbilityOne Program helps thousands of people who are blind or have other severe disabilities find employment.
disABLEDperson – disABLEDperson is a public organization whose primary focus is disability employment. They work to connect employers with disabled employees.
AbilityLinks – If you’re an inclusive business seeking to identify qualified candidates with disabilities, you can use AbilityLinks to post jobs, search resumes and review job applications submitted through the AbilityLinks website. Posting jobs and searching resumes are free.