Career Resources for Students with Disabilities

The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. The employment provisions of the ADA prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of disability and require employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities who are qualified to perform a job. The ADA also requires public access and nondiscrimination by public entities, as well as enhances access to transportation and telecommunications.

Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more of a person's major life activities, such as seeing, hearing, walking, standing, sitting or learning

What is a workplace accommodation?

A workplace accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way in which a job is usually done that enables an individual with a disability who is otherwise qualified to perform a job, to attain the same level of performance and to enjoy the same benefits and privileges of employment

What is a reasonable accommodation? 

Reasonable accommodations can apply to the duties of the job and/or where and how job tasks are performed.  The accommodation should provide the person with a disability an equal playing field with the rest of the employees, enabling them to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has provided guidance on how to request a reasonable accommodation. Here is how to make the request as an individual (outside parties can also make the request, but this information will not be outlined below).

When an individual decides to request accommodation, the individual or his/her representative must let the employer know that s/he needs an adjustment or change at work for a reason related to a medical condition. To request accommodation, an individual may use "plain English" and need not mention the ADA or use the phrase "reasonable accommodation."

• Example A: An employee tells her supervisor, "I'm having trouble getting to work at my scheduled starting time because of medical treatments I'm undergoing." This is a request for reasonable accommodation.
• Example B: An employee tells his supervisor, "I need six weeks off to get treatment for a back problem." This is a request for reasonable accommodation.
• Example C: A new employee, who uses a wheelchair, informs the employer that her wheelchair cannot fit under the desk in her office. This is a request for reasonable accommodation.
• Example D: An employee tells his supervisor that he would like a new chair because his present one is uncomfortable. Although this is a request for a change at work, his statement is insufficient to put the employer on notice that he is requesting a reasonable accommodation. He does not link his need for the new chair with a medical condition.

While an individual with a disability may request a change due to a medical condition, this request does not necessarily mean that the employer is required to provide the change. A request for reasonable accommodation is the first step in an informal, interactive process between the individual and the employer. In some instances, before addressing the merits of the accommodation request, the employer needs to determine if the individual's medical condition meets the ADA definition of "disability," a prerequisite for the individual to be entitled to reasonable accommodation.

Note: requests do not need to be in writing. A conversation or other mode of communication is fully acceptable under law.

Disclosure is a very personal decision, and a decision that takes thought and practice. Both people with visible disabilities and those with hidden (not readily apparent to others) disabilities can benefit from accurate information on disclosure. The following information for young people, families, and youth service professionals can assist in determining appropriate methods of disclosure.

Cyber Disclosure for Youth with Disabilities

• This document is a supplement to The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities, which helps youth learn about disability disclosure and what it means for them. Search sites like Google, social networking sites like Facebook, and micro-blogging sites like Twitter have added a new element to disclosure. Now it is possible to disclose disability status on the internet without even being aware of it. This can be as simple as a picture of a person using a wheelchair, a comment on a friend’s blog about disability, or a profile posted on a disability organization’s website. The goal of this document is to provide youth with suggestions on how to both make informed decisions about their own disability disclosure and manage their disclosures online.

Helping Youth with Learning Disabilities Chart the Course: A Guide for Youth Service Professionals

• This Info Brief describes challenges faced by youth and young adults with learning disabilities as they reach adulthood, while also highlighting strategies youth service professionals can implement to help youth to transition successfully into the workplace.

The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Families, Educators, Youth Service Professionals, and Adult Allies Who Care About Youth with Disabilities

• Adults in the lives of young people with both visible disabilities and those with disabilities that are not apparent to others can benefit from using this workbook. This workbook helps adults make informed decisions about teaching a young man or woman about his or her rights and responsibilities in disclosing his or her disability – a decision that will affect the young person’s educational, employment, and social life. This workbook will help adults learn how to support a young person with a disability as he or she takes steps in becoming more independent and self-sufficient. In fact, making the personal decision to disclose a disability can make the young person more confident in himself or herself and the choices he or she makes.

The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities

• This guide is designed for youth and adults working with them to learn about disability disclosure. This workbook helps young people make informed decisions about whether or not to disclose their disabilities and understand how that decision may impact their education, employment and social lives.

Youth and Disability Disclosure: The Role of Families and Advocates

• This Info Brief highlights NCWD-Youth’s The 411 on Disability Disclosure and explores the role families and advocates play in helping youth understand the importance of appropriate disability disclosure.

A good place to learn about private employers with a good track record of hiring and retaining people with disabilities in the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN). This nonprofit organization works to promote workplaces, as well as marketplaces and supply chains, that are inclusive of people with disabilities and serves as the collective voice for more than 60 state and local affiliates that represent more than 5,000 businesses across the country.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), funded by DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy, is the leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations. JAN's website is AskJAN.org. Live phone service is also available 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST by calling (toll-free) 1-800-526-7234 (voice) or 1-877-781-9403 (TTY).

Resources

• Work Without Limits: A Gordon College partner who specialized in a statewide network of engaged employers and innovative, collaborative partners that aims to increase employment among individuals with disabilities.
• Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities: The Arts Endowment seeks to address barriers and advance training and career opportunities in the arts for individuals with disabilities.
• AHEAD: Association on Higher Education and Disability: This association is committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in postsecondary education.
• Federal Government’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Disability Employment: This website contains valuable information for federal agencies to use in recruiting, hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities and targeted disabilities.
• Lime Connect: This organization defines itself as leading the way as the premier resource for top talent in the disability space by attracting, preparing and connecting highly accomplished individuals with disabilities for careers with the world’s leading corporations.
• The Sierra Group Recruit Disability.org: The organization provides information, guidance and resources on every aspect of the job search process: salary research, resume suggestions, job postings and articles on the latest news.
• Getting Hired: This organization seeks to bridge the gap between job seekers with disabilities and employers looking to hire. A student gets started by creating a job account and is then able to search for job postings and their resources.
• Job Accommodation Network: This consulting firm provides information on job accommodation, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)and employment opportunities.
• AAAS Entry Point: This American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) program identifies and recruits students with apparent and non-apparent disabilities studying in science, engineering, math, computer science, and some fields of business for internship and co-op opportunities.
• National Business & Disability Council at The Viscardi Center: They are an employer organization and comprehensive resource for disability best practices.
• Emerging Leaders Internship Program for College Students with Disabilities: A highly competitive program that places top undergraduate and graduate college students with disabilities in fulfilling internships nationwide also provides them with meaningful leadership development and networking opportunities.
• Equal Opportunity Publications: This publication has led the way on issues including affirmative action and diversity recruitment by publishing career-guidance and recruitment maagazines for women, members of minority groups and people with disabilities. You can also browse upcoming job fairs and get career guidance.
• Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities: Explore profiles of featured employers, employees and students. Access their membership directory.
• ETS Guidelines for Students with Disabilities: Resources for students regarding ETS accommodation for test-taking (GRE, TOEFL, etc.).
• Independent Living Research Utilization Job Announcements: Search for job opportunities across the country.
• Americans with Disabilities Act: A guide for people with disabilities seeking employment.
• Bender Consulting Services: Recruitment and hiring services for professionals living with disabilities.
• disABLEDperson: A job board for people with disabilities, which lists hundreds of new jobs every day posted by companies who are looking to hire people with disabilities.
• Disability IN: An organization focused on disability inclusion in business and building opportunities and inclusion for candidates with disabilities at businesses and corporations worldwide.