Resources updated, April 2013
A legacy resource from NICHCY
Individuals with disabilities are a vital and dynamic part of our Nation, and their contributions have impacted countless lives. People with disabilities bring immeasurable value to our workplaces, and we will continue to address the challenges to employment that must be overcome…[L]et us rededicate ourselves to fostering equal access and fair opportunity in our labor force, and to capitalizing on the talent, skills, and rich diversity of all our workers….
I urge all Americans to embrace the unique value that individuals with disabilities bring to our workplaces and communities and to promote everyone’s right to employment.
President Barack Obama
October 1, 2010
Presidential Proclamation–National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Heard of the Campaign for Disability Employment? The Campaign is a collaborative effort between several disability and business organizations, with a mission to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The Campaign encourages employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace, as well as the dividend to be realized by fully including people with disabilities at work. People with disabilities can and do make important contributions to America’s businesses every day. “By implementing good workplace practices,” says the Campaign, “like maintaining a flexible and inclusive work environment, businesses can capitalize on the talents of qualified people with disabilities, benefitting everyone.”
In support of this goal, the CPIR is pleased to offer this resource page especially for employers. In truth, there’s an amazing amount of expertise at your fingertips—made available by the Federal Government and the private sector both. Here are 10 premier sources of deep and detailed information on employing people with disabilities: How to, why to, and the nuts-and-bolts of…
10 Sources of Great Information
Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor
(866) 487-2365 (Department of Labor, toll-free)
(877) 889-5627 (Department of Labor, TTY)
www.dol.gov/odep
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is an excellent place to begin understanding the network that exists with respect to employment of individuals with disabilities. ODEP provides information, training, and technical assistance to America’s business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and other service providers, advocacy organizations, families, and individuals with disabilities. ODEP’s mission is to facilitate the communication, coordination, and promotion of public and private efforts to empower Americans with disabilities through employment. ODEP also serves as an advisor to the President of the United States on public policy issues affecting employment of people with disabilities.
JAN | Job Accommodation Network
(800) 526-7234
http://askjan.org
JAN is the most comprehensive resource for job accommodations available. Personalized technical assistance is available to employers and individuals with disabilities alike. And it’s free, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). How great is that?
Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network (EARN)
(855) 275-3276
http://askearn.org/
EARN is a free service for employers employers seeking to recruit, hire, and retain qualified employees with disabilities. This website is a one-stop source for disability employment information, including: recruiting services, tools and resources, employer success stories, and business case for hiring people with disabilities.
The Campaign for Disability Employment
http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/
Visit the Campaign’s employer page to learn how your organization can capitalize on the talents of people with disabilities and access resources to assist in recruiting, retaining and advancing skilled, qualified employees.
ADA National Network
(800) 949-4232 (Voice/TTY)
www.adata.org
There are 10 technical assistance centers in the ADA National Network, each serving a specific region of the country. Together, the centers (also called DBTACs) help businesses voluntarily implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which includes the federal mandate for reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Via the link above, you can find the center that serves your region and a wealth of info about employment for people with disabilities, what the ADA requires, and connections into this nationwide network of assistance.
National Center on Workforce and Disability for Adults
(888) 886-9898
https://www.corada.com/links/the-national-center-on-workforce-and-disability-adult-ncwd
The National Center on Workforce and Disability for Adults (NCWD-Adult) is a comprehensive technical assistance resource for organizations and professionals who provide workforce development and employment related services to adults with disabilities. The NCWD-Adult provides training, technical assistance, policy analysis, and information to improve access for all in the workforce development system.
Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
https://wrp.gov/LoginPre.do?method=login
WRP is ready to help you fill your summer or permanent hiring needs with talented college students with disabilities. The WRP database contains profiles of student job candidates from more than 230 colleges and universities nationwide, representing all majors, and ranging from college freshmen to graduate students and law students.
Disability.gov
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/topics
The Employment section of disability.gov’s website allows you to identify resources at the national level, state level, or both. Once you select one of these options, you can then narrow your search by type of disability, audience (choose “Employers and Human Resource Specialists”), and various subtopics.
National Business & Disability Council
https://www.assistivetechnologycenter.org/resource/national-business-and-disability-council/
The NBDC is a leading resource for employers seeking to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace and companies seeking to reach them in the consumer marketplace.