Part 3 – Finding Employment:
Even though I am not at this juncture, I am conscientious of the fact that the time will come when I will have to cross this bridge; my 22 year old son Joel is in the process of attending an adult training center and we are all hoping he acquires the necessary skills to find a job that suits him.
Nevertheless, I still wanted to know what, if any, employment opportunities are available for persons with disabilities. So, as I browsed through various web sites I am pleased to write that, currently, there are several career options. Thanks to the Federal Government and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) hiring options for the disabled has increased. Both entities share intricate parts in ensuring the disabled are an inclusive part of our working community.
For example, the Social Security Administration has a website that provides necessary services to prepare and place beneficiaries with employment. Visit this site http://www.ssa.gov/work/ for valuable information on how the program works and who can benefit from this service. Also, the US Department of Education is actively looking to recruit persons with disabilities and Hispanics. This website http://www2.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/index.html provides information on job listings and plans for employment.
Although I very much appreciate the government’s efforts, I quickly became curious on the availability of work in the private sector. What does midsize businesses and Corporate America have to offer persons with disabilities?
The truth is, disabled persons face great challenges in obtaining employment in the private sector. And even though, the Department of Labor latest report showed an overall improvement, among the disabled unemployment remains considerably high (in part because Corporate America is disabled too with fear and uncertainty).
It would behoove parents, guardians and persons with disabilities looking for work in the private sector to rely on organizations dedicated to this endeavor. Many of these programs are run by non-profit organizations, who have strong ties to employers and companies in the community.
Take a look at some of the links I found during my research. One of these may be what you are looking for:
EARN http://www.askearn.org/g-jobseeker.cfm Employer Assistance and Resource Network is a resource for employers seeking to recruit, hire, and retain qualified employees with disabilities. EARN has a jobseeker page to help the disabled find work.
HIRE DISABILITIES SOLUTIONS http://www.hireds.com/ this site is dedicated to connecting individuals with disabilities with employers. They provide tools for skill building and concentrate on promoting what a disabled person can do as well as how an employer can benefit from hiring a person with disability.
LATPRO http://www.latpro.com/index.php?1324318902 this online company connects employers and recruiters to Hispanic professionals. This site provides free services for jobseekers and can be a perfect fit for persons with disabilities seeking to use their bilingual language skills.
SALUDOS http://www.saludos.com/ this site is dedicated to connecting Hispanic bilingual professionals with companies looking to diversify their workforce. Again, can be a perfect fit for persons with disabilities seeking to use their bilingual language skills.
EOP http://www.eop.com/ Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc specializes in diversity recruitment. They are dedicated to helping women, minority groups, and people with disabilities through expos, online job boards, and career magazines.
I will not fool anyone by ending this article with false expectations. Truthfully, experience tells me the private industry is frightened stiff of the disabled. Our challenge is to change the mindset and help employers develop confidence in how to accommodate a disabled employee.
I do see possibility in these hopeful trends I've listed above.
