Job Accommodation Network
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is an information and consulting service providing individualized accommodation solutions which can assist people with disabilities in the workplace. A service of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, JAN also provides answers to specific questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) . The ADA is a civil rights act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, public access, transportation and communications.
Over the years, JAN has received many calls from people with disabilities seeking employment opportunities. Since this organization does not serve as a job placement service, the ability to help has been limited. To better serve these needs, JAN has developed a resource list for callers who are seeking employment opportunities. This list will provide possible employment resources but will not provide actual job leads or listings. It will be necessary to determine which of the listed resources will be able to help and contact them directly in order to obtain assistance. Also, this list is not comprehensive. There may be many other services available other than the ones listed here.
EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS
During the application process, an applicant will want to present qualifications and experience related to the position. Since it is the employer's right to set the essential functions, establishing the expectations of the position is an important part of the application process. Job descriptions and position announcements are documents that convey this information.
Once an applicant knows the employer's expectations and the essential functions of the job, the individual's abilities and functional limitations related to the job must be evaluated. At this point, an applicant must evaluate his or her ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
Reasonable accommodations are modifications to the facility, changes in the job process, and assistive technology that allows a person to perform at the expected performance standards. Reasonable accommodation ideas may come from personal experiences and by calling the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Accommodation Network (JAN) . At JAN, an individual will be put in contact with a Human Factors Consultant specializing in a specific disability area.
Once an interview has been scheduled, a person should be prepared to describe how he/she would perform the essential functions of the job. The interview process is a tool used by the employer to determine if the applicant is qualified for the job and whether the individual will be a good fit. An employer cannot use the interview or the application process to inquire about a potential disability.
Medical disclosure includes voluntarily disclosing the medical information and employer inquires and exams. Many individuals ask, "When is it appropriate to acknowledge that I am a person with a disability?" When to disclose a disability is an individual choice. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that an individual does not have to inform the potential employer about medical history until a conditional job offer has been made. More information on Pre-Employment Medical Exams and Inquiries can be found at:
http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/preemp.html
One of the basic rights of an individual under the ADA is to file a claim of discrimination based upon disability. Inquiring about medical history before a conditional job offer or screening out a person because of a disability may be considered discrimination. Information about filing a claim can be found by calling JAN or at the website:
http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/howtofil.html
The Division of Rehabilitation Services (Office of Vocational Rehabilitation or Bureau of Rehabilitation) can assist individuals with disabilities in finding employment and obtaining training to facilitate employment opportunities. The telephone number can be found in the blue pages of your local phone book under State Government or by contacting local directory assistance. Listings for each state can also be found at the following website:
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/sbses/VOCREHAB.HTM
The Job Service or Employment Security is your state's employment agency. The number can be found in the Government Listings in your telephone directory.
Information on Welfare, Social Security benefits, or Supplemental Security Income, can be obtained be contacting the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) . Telephone numbers can be found in the Federal Government Listings of your local phone book or from the following websites:
SSA: http://www.ssa.gov
HHS: http://www.hhs.gov
Use personal contacts to find out about possible job opportunities. Personal contacts could be friends, family, former co-workers or employers, members of your religious organization, local community members such as doctors, physical therapists, counselors, members of professional organizations or social clubs, etc.
Use a direct approach by going from one employer to another. You may need to visit or telephone many places of employment about present or future job openings.
College, university, or vocational-technical school placement offices offer job placement and career development services.
The public library may be able to provide employment information.
Independent Living Centers may provide employment leads and job club services to individuals with disabilities.
Classified ads found in the newspaper, local bulletin boards or professional magazines may be useful.
Advocacy and support groups may provide employment assistance.
Public and private employment agencies circulate resumes and match appropriate job candidates.
Job banks provide computerized listings of jobs that you can be matched up with nationwide.
Use the Internet to find employment opportunities. Local libraries usually have computers to access the Internet.
Volunteer activities can sometimes lead to paid employment and can provide good work experience to include on a resume.
These strategies may help to find a job. However, these suggestions are not all inclusive. Following is a list of specific resources which may be helpful in seeking job leads, placement, training, or assistance in the employment finding process such as resume writing and interviewing techniques.
Temporary staffing agencies may be one answer to people with disabilities finding employment opportunities. Temporary staffing agencies work with people with disabilities in the same way they work with people without disabilities. These services provide job seekers with opportunities to build a work history, experience different types of jobs, and increase their employment marketability and earning potential through enhancement of skills.
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
Small Business and Self Employment Service (SBSES)
The SBSES is a service of the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy providing comprehensive information, counseling, and referrals about self-employment opportunities for people with disabilities. More information can be obtained by contacting the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) at 1-800-526-7234 (V/TTY) .
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/sbses/index.htm
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) can provide assistance about starting a small business. For a local SBA office, look in the telephone directory under Government Listings or access the following website.
The Federal Government's Selective Placement programs include special appointing authorities for people with disabilities. Federal hiring officials can use special hiring authorities when considering certain people with disabilities (those who have a severe physical, cognitive or emotional disability or a history of having such disabilities or are perceived as having such disabilities) . The use of these authorities is not mandatory. These authorities provide a unique opportunity to demonstrate the potential to successfully perform the essential duties of a position, with and without workplace reasonable accommodation.
How to Qualify for Selective Placement Opportunities
If you are interested in being considered under these special-hiring authorities, you must contact either a State Vocational or Department of Veterans Affairs rehabilitation counselor and request their assistance. They will review and prepare the necessary documents. You may ask them to provide you with a "certification" statement that describes your ability to perform the essential duties of the position in which you are interested. Then, once you have obtained this certification statement, you may then contact the Federal agency where you wish to work. Ask for the contact person that handles the Selective Placement Program. These agency representatives work closely with qualified people with disabilities and hiring officials. They help match applicant core skills along with applicant/employee reasonable accommodation needs with available jobs.
http://www.opm.gov/disability/hrpro_3-08.asp
A list of legal resources can be found at:
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/disres.htm#LegalRes
America's Job Bank
This site contains job listings from all over the U.S.
Career Magazine
The Career Magazine site offers info on job openings and employers, articles, a resume bank, career forum and other info on careers. Career Magazine, 4775 Walnut St. Suite 2A, Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 440-5110 webmaster@careermag.com
Career Builder
Search over 75 websites for jobs worldwide. Links to major newspapers' classifieds and employment websites. Customer Service (866) 438-1485
Careers On-Line (888) 879-2651
Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle's career service. Each week they list hundreds of new job announcements from the latest issues of The Chronicle, plus other information useful to people pursuing careers in higher education.
CWA Veterans' Program
Communications Workers of America assists veterans, transitioning military personnel and their spouses in locating jobs in communications and information technology. The Communications Workers of America, 501 3rd ST NW, Washington, DC 20001, Attn: Employment Center
http://www.cwanett.org/military.asp
Hot Jobs
Monster
America's Jobline makes a personalized job search possible by telephone. Developed by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) in cooperation with the United States Department of Labor. (410) 767-2626, (800) 765-8692
http://www.nfb.org/jobline.htm
Computer Technologies Program
CTP, a nonprofit training organization in Berkeley, CA has placed over 92% of its graduates in Information Technologies careers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley over the past 20 years. For more information please contact
David Landes at (510) 849-2911.RecruitABILITY
RecruitABILITY commitment is to provide an online, targeted recruiting site that effectively connects proactive employers with job seekers with disabilities.
http://www.disabledperson.com/recruitability.asp
Employment Support Institute (ESI)
Providing supports for better decision-making about employment options and policies affecting people with disabilities.
http://www.vcu.edu/busweb/esi/
The Epilepsy Foundation of America
The Career Support Centerhttp://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/programs/csc.cfm
Goodwill Industries
One of the world's largest and most successful providers of employment and training services for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. (800) 664-6577
http://www.goodwill.org/index.htm
Independence Bank
A resume bank for individuals with disabilities.
The Independence Bank, 2715 South 4th, Springfield, IL 62705Jewish Vocational and Career Counseling Service
San Francisco-area nonsectarian, nonprofit organization. Jobs and programs for disabled people, disadvantaged youth, homeless families, Soviet refugees, and people on welfare. 77 Geary Street, Suite 401, San Francisco, CA 94108 (415) 391-3600 PHONE (415) 391-3617 FAX (415) 391-2846 TDD hire@jvs.org
JobAccess
The goal of JobAccess is to enable people with disabilities to enhance their professional lives by providing a dedicated system for finding employment. JobAccess 1001 W. 17th St. Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Phone: (949) 854-8700 Fax: (949) 548-5966
http://www.jobaccess.org/contact.htm
Job Accommodation Network's Employment Resources
List of web employment resources that are useful to people with disabilities
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/employ.htm#Emp-Disability
MiningCo.Com
Each MiningCo.com GuideSite TM is devoted to a single topic - complete with site reviews, feature articles and discussion areas - and each site is created by a qualified MiningCo.com Guide, a company-certified subject specialist who's responsible for helping you get the most out of your time online.
http://jobsearchtech.miningco.com/msub4.htm
Minorities' Job Bank
A comprehensive career site with many resources, including job searching, career advice, articles, résumé posting and "villages" dedicated to each of several minorities. Black Collegiate Services, Inc. 909 Poydras Street 36th Floor New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 523-0154 * Fax (504) 523-0271
Project EARN
The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy has implemented a free nationwide employer service to increase the representation of people with disabilities in the workforce. The Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN) became available to the public March 1, 2001 and is designed to assist employers in locating and recruiting qualified workers with disabilities. 1-866-327-6669 FAX 703-820-4820
National Organization on Disability
The National Organization on Disability promotes full and equal participation of America's 54 million men, women, and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.
National Alliance of the DisABLED, Inc.
The National Alliance of the DisABLED, Inc. (NAOTD) is an online informational and advocacy organization dedicated to working towards gaining equal rights for the disABLED in all areas of life. The headquarters of The National Alliance of the DisABLED , Inc. is located at 1352 Sioux Street, Orange Park, FL 32065.
contact: NAOTD@aol.comDepartment of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Links
Employers have indicated interest in recruiting and hiring qualified individuals with disabilities for open positions within their company or organization.
http://www.dol.gov/odep/joblinks/joblinks.htm
State Workforce Investment Boards
A simple directory of US programs to assist welfare recipients; minorities and others land gainful employment, from the Governor's Work Force Investment Board, Maryland. Governor's Work Force Investment Board 1414 Key Highway, 2nd Floor Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: Voice: (410) 333-4454 FAX: (410) 333-4467http://www.gwib.state.md.us/OtherWIBs.html
Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)
Index of occupational titles by index number. Can be used to obtain job descriptions.
http://www.oalj.dol.gov/libdot.htm
JobProfiles.com
Cover the personal side of work, because we believe that a good fit
between your interests and your chosen field is the number
one correlation for your success.
jobpro@jobprofiles.comhttp://www.jobprofiles.org/index.htm
Occupational Information Network (O*NET)
Updated information critical to the effective training, education, counseling and employment of workers. O*NET Project DOL Office of Policy and Research ETA/O*NET, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, MS N5637 Washington, DC 20210
Phone: (202) 219-7161, FAX: (202) 219-9186
Internet: O*NET@doleta.govhttp://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/
Americans with Disabilities Act & the Emerging Work Force - Employment of People with Mental Retardation. By David L. Braddock, Peter D. Blanck. Publisher: American Association on Mental Retardation Publication. Date Published: March 1998. ISBN: 0940898527
Career Counseling for People with Disabilities: A Practical Guide to Finding Employment. By Karen E. Wolffe. Publisher: Pro Ed, Date Published: July 1997. ISBN: 0890797226
Career Success for People with Physical Disabilities. By Sharon F. Kissane. Publisher: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company. Date Published: October 1996. ISBN: 084424175X
Complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Guidebook for Management and People with Disabilities. By Don Fersh, Peter W. Thomas. Publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group, Date Published: March 1993. ISBN: 0899307140
Employment of Minorities, Women & People with Disabilities in the Federal Government- Annual Report for Fiscal Year Ending 1994. Publisher: DIANE Publishing Company. Date Published: June 1997. ISBN: 0788145177
Employment Strategies for People with Disabilities - The Role of Employers. Publisher: Manhattan Pub. Co, Date Published: January 1995. ISBN: 9287128898
Exemplary Practices in Employment Services for People with Psychiatric Disabilities. By E. Viccora, J. Perry, and L. Mancuso. Date Published: 1994, Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Program Directors. (Contact NASMHPD at (703) 739-9333) .
Finding Your Perfect Work. By Paul and Sarah Edwards. Publisher: J.P. Tarcher, Date Published: 1996. ISBN: 087477795X
The Future of Work for People with Disabilities: A View from Great Britain. By Paul Cornes. Publisher: World Rehabilitation Fund, Date Published: January 1984. ISBN: 0939986426
Get the Marketing Edge: A Job Developer's Toolkit for People with Disabilities. By Dawn Langton, Dale Dileo. Publisher: Training Resource Network, Date Published: August 1997. ISBN: 1883302005
Handbook of Career Planning for Students With Special Needs. By Thomas F. Harrington (Editor) . Publisher: Pro Ed, Date Published: May 1997 ISBN: 0890797064
Information Technologies Training for People with Disabilities. (Disabilities and Rehabilitation, Vol. 4) By Michael Floyd. Publisher: City University, Date Published: 1993. ISBN: 1853021296
JIST Bookstore - Internet bookstore that publishes career and business books
http://www.jist.com/Job Developer's Guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act - Using the ADA to Promote Job Opportunities for People with Disabilities. By Thomas P. Golden, Susan M. Bruyere. Publisher: Training Resource Network Incorporated (TRN) , Date Published: June 1996. ISBN: 1883302056
Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities. By Richard Nelson Bolles and Dale Susan Brown. Publisher: Ten Speed Press, Date Published: October 2001. ISBN: 1580081959
The Job Search Handbook for People with Disabilities. By Daniel J. Ryan. Publisher: Park Avenue, Date Published: February, 2000. ISBN: 1563706652
Job Strategies for People with Disabilities. By Joyce L. Kennedy, Melanie A. Witt. Publisher: Peterson's, Date Published: 1992. ISBN: 1560791438
Keys to the Workplace: Skills and Supports for People with Disabilities. By Michael J. Callahan, J. Bradley Garner (Contributor) . Paul H Brookes Pub Co , Date Published: 1997. ISBN: 1557662762
Learning a Living - A Guidebook to Career Success for People with ADD, Learning Disabilities, and Dyslexia. By Dale S. Brown. Publisher: Woodbine House, Date Published: April 2000, 1 ED. Edition. ISBN: 0933149875
Life Beyond the Classroom: Transition Strategies for Young People with Disabilities. By Paul Wehman. Publisher: Paul H Brookes Pub Co, Date Published: March 2001. ISBN: 1557664765
Mental Health Consumers in the Workplace. By Judge David L. Bazelon, Center for Mental Health Law. Date Published: 1992. (Contact the Bazelon Center at (202) 467-5730) .
More Than a Job: Securing Satisfying Careers for People with Disabilities. By Paul Wehman (editor) , John Kregel (editor) . Publisher: Paul H Brookes Pub Co, Date Published: 1998. ISBN: 1557663289
People with Psychiatric Disabilities, Employment and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Turning Policy into Practice. Center for Mental Health Services. Date Published: 1995, Rockville, MD. (contact the Knowledge Exchange Network at (800) 789-2647) .
Refurbishing Offices for People with Disabilities: A Design and Assessment Guide for Owners, Occupiers, Developers and Advisors. By Jack Rostron, Murray Gordham. Publisher: Arena, Date Published: 1996. ISBN: 1857423453
The Relationship between Symptomology, Work Skills, and Future Vocational Performance. By W. Anthony. Date Published: 1995. Boston, MA: Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. (cost: $3.00, contact the C.P.R. at (617) 353-3550) .
Resources for People with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions. Wriiten and published by: Resources for Rehabilitation (Organization) Staff. Date Published: November 1999. ISBN: 0929718224
Resources for People with Disabilities: A National Directory. By Shawn Woodward (editor) , John Bradford (editor) , Elizabeth Oakes (editor) . Publisher: Ferguson Publishing, Date Published: October 2000. ISBN: 0894343092
Standards of Work Performance - A Functional Assessment & Training Manual for Training People with Disabilities for Employment. By Vivienne C. Riches. Publisher: Paul H. Brookes, Date Published: June 1993. ISBN: 0864330901
Successful Job Search Strategies for the Disabled: Understanding the ADA. By Jeffery G. Allen. Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Date Published: 1994 ISBN: 047159234X
U.S. The Guide to Internet Job Searching, 2000-01 edition. By Margaret Riley Dikel, Frances Roehm, Steve Oserman. Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books, Date Published: April 2000. ISBN: 0658002252
A service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor