National Disability Employment Awareness Month is bringing it strong with some positive information about employment for people with disabilities.
New Utilization Goals and Accessibility Assessment Tools
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act has been revised to include some utilization goals to encourage federal contractors and subcontractors to employ people with disabilities. The definition of disability is now more inclusive of more disorders and conditions. As federal contractors and subcontractors make up approximately 200,000 employers nationwide, these changes may spell expanded opportunities for people with disabilities. Under the new regulations, employees with disabilities would make up 7% of the overall staff for organizations with 50 to 100 employees. Employers with more than 100 employees would be encouraged to have a 7% population of employees with disabilities within each job category. It is important to note the word "encouraged"—employers are not required to meet this target, though they are asked to develop plans for doing so.
A utilization goal of 8 percent can also be found in the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), which pertains specifically to the employment of individuals who are veterans. The breakdown by employer size is the same as that mentioned above regarding Section 503.
The fact is, employers who are not federal contractors and subcontractors are starting to look at these utilization goals as best practices. Businesses are reaching out to people with disabilities and organizations associated with large populations of people with disabilities to assist with recruitment and the dissemination of job announcements.
In the past year, the Council for State Agencies for Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and other entities have developed a new portal for vocational rehabilitation to connect consumers with employers. The new tool, called the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP), gives employers access to a large population of job seekers with disabilities. The verdict is still out on this initiative, and I look forward to hearing more about the results.
In the realm of employers, the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN) has been a strong advocate for connecting employers with people with disabilities. USBLN also provides employers with guidance on policies and structures that help support disability in the workplace. The USBLN developed a tool called the Disability Equality Index (DEI), modeled after the successful Corporate Equality Index that promoted equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. The DEI offers employers the ability to assess how their organization supports employees with disability through policies, hiring practices, and much more. The USBLN is a membership organization for employers, and it has local leadership networks around the United States. If you are an employer or connected with employers, encourage their participation with these types of groups. The USBLN supports the hiring of underrepresented populations such as people with disabilities and veterans, and promotes a wider diversity in general within the workforce.
The Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) is an organization and initiative born out of a federal grant from the Department of Labor Office on Disability Employment Policy. Its work centers around employment accessibility, with a primary initiative focusing on improving the accessibility of online application systems, which have been and continue to be a substantial barrier to the employment process for those who use screen access technology. PEAT has created its own tool for assessing an organization's accessibility—in recruitment, employment, and policy and beyond—to individuals with disabilities. The initiative is being spearheaded by Loren Mikula, an executive with corporate and nonprofit experience in the accessibility of technology and in securing appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Other organizations, such as the National Organization on Disability, have also been working to create access to employment for people with disabilities.
Technology and the Employment Process: Benefits and Challenges
The employment process includes training, researching, applying, interviewing, getting hired, starting a job, and maintaining employment. With increased use of mobile apps in the mainstream employment process, people who are blind or visually impaired should also have access to these applications. The fact is a lot of mainstream apps related to job seeking are not accessible via either Apple VoiceOver or Android TalkBack. Last year I took the time to review a number of these apps, and at that point, only a few were totally accessible. Most provided anywhere from limited to substantial access right up until the point of having to submit information.
In the past year and a half, a number of the large technology companies have invested in hiring teams of accessibility specialists or in expanding existing teams. AT&T, Sprint, Comcast, Verizon, Google, Apple, and Microsoft have made significant investments in creating better access for people with disabilities. Smaller technology companies are investing as well. I look forward to seeing what all of this accessibility brings for us in the future.
LinkedIn has become a useful employment and networking tool for job seekers and people in the workforce. Originally designed to assist recruiters and businesses in locating and recruiting employees, LinkedIn has become much more than that. People use LinkedIn to connect with people in similar fields, to disseminate information, and to find resources. Individuals are also using LinkedIn to find out more about employers through connections and organization pages; to validate their skills through references and recommendations; and for finding job leads. To truly use it as a tool for job seekers, the level of networking is quite important. The company has invested in accessibility by bringing on new staff. There have been some changes, but a lot more is needed to improve the interface and accessibility of both its online platform and mobile app.
2014 Employment Resources Revisited
AFB CareerConnect
The CareerConnect website is a fully accessible AFB sub-site dedicated to promoting the employment of people with vision loss. CareerConnect boasts a number of helpful resources, such as articles about the employment process, stories from successfully employed people with vision loss called "Our Stories," and connections to mentors who are blind or visually impaired who are employed in many fields. These mentors are great resources for career specific questions, information about job accommodations, and more. CareerConnect also offers useful links for job seekers, career exploration, and resume development tools. In addition, CareerConnect provides useful tools and activities for professionals working with clients who are blind or visually impaired.
Career Clusters
AFB CareerConnect offers Career Clusters, an easier way to navigate government data on popular job fields. The Career Clusters message boards facilitate connecting with mentors in specific fields.
The Career Clusters cover law, education, counseling, healthcare, entertainment, communications, business, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and other fields. Users can build a network through field-related message boards and profile pages within the CareerConnect program. Now, CareerConnect mentors and users can associate their profiles with specific clusters, which helps make relevant networking connections.
Social Networking—CareerConnect Profile
In February 2014, AFB launched the new version of the CareerConnect profile, which turned out to be a bigger change to the program than we even anticipated. The project involved a massive rebuild of the structure of the e-mentoring program and a variety of aspects of the CareerConnect user profile. This version brings a modern feel to the CareerConnect mentoring system, which now allows status updates, associations to mentors, mentor suggestions, a customizable profile, and new ways to interact.
The Job Seeker's Toolkit
The CareerConnect Job Seeker's Toolkit is a free, self-paced online course aimed at people who are new to the employment process. The Toolkit consists of a series of lessons and assignments that cover self-awareness, career exploration, job seeking tools, pre-interview and interview skills, and job maintenance. As you work your way through the Toolkit, you can save your assignments (ranging from your network contacts, to your resume and cover letter, to a list of job leads, to your My CareerConnect portfolio) where they can be accessed for future reference or use. In early 2015, look for a new course on maintaining and advancing in employment.
CareerConnect App
AFB launched the CareerConnect App on June 24 of this year. The fully accessible app, which offers mobile access to content from the CareerConnect Blog, Our Stories, and Lesson Plans for Teachers and Professionals, is free in the Apple App Store. AFB will be launching version 2, with added features and capabilities, in June 2015.
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) CareersWithVision
The NIB CareersWithVision website is the result of a collaborative effort between AFB CareerConnect and the NIB. The NIB has compiled a large list of jobs from around the US within organizations that do work in fields related to blindness, or that have hired people with visual impairments. A unique feature of the site is that you can submit your CareerConnect resume to participating organizations in order to apply for jobs. This service requires you to create a free CareerConnect user profile to search the job board, develop a resume, and apply for jobs.
Hadley School for the Blind
The Hadley School for the Blind offers online and correspondence courses for people with vision loss in subjects related to blindness skills, business writing, employment, and more. Hadley's exciting program, the Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship, offers in-depth information and training for entrepreneurs who are blind or visually impaired who want to start their own business. This resource has seen growth and innovation through partnerships with groups like the Veteran's Administration.
Accessing Federal Jobs
Federal agencies have two job application methods available for people with disabilities: competitive and noncompetitive placements. Job applicants must meet specified qualifications and be able to perform essential job duties related to any position with reasonable accommodations.
Jobs filled competitively are advertised on USAJOBS, the official job-posting site used by the US government. There are approximately 16,000 jobs available on the site each day. Once you register on the site, you can set up notifications for job advertisements related to selected keywords. Jobs filled noncompetitively are available to those with mental, severe physical, or psychiatric disabilities who have appropriate documentation as specified by the US Office of Personnel Management.
The US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) offers useful connections to resources for self-employment, youth employment, employer advisement, the latest disability policies, and more. This office advises the US Department of Labor and other government agencies on employment issues regarding people with disabilities.
GettingHired
GettingHired, LLC offers training courses, opportunities to connect with employers, career personality assessments, and other employment resources for people with disabilities. GettingHired has recently announced a partnership with HirePotential, Inc., which will provide specialized training courses for national employers on the accommodation process, disability etiquette training, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs compliance, tax credit utilization, and disability awareness training for recruiters and hiring managers.
Job Accommodation Network
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is an online resource for accommodation advice for all disabilities. The website also allows users to submit questions regarding special accommodations and ADA issues in the workplace. JAN hosts webcasts on the provision of job accommodations, and the programs can be accessed through its website.
Career One Stop
Career One Stop is a free resource provided by the US Department of Labor that allows you to search state job bank databases.
Career Centers
Career centers help people perform research to support professional goals. Colleges, universities, and postsecondary and vocational schools often have career centers, and many are available to the public. You may have to visit, call, or do some online research to find out what is available to you locally. Keep in mind that many career centers maintain robust websites accessible to anyone with an Internet connection, and these sites may offer many free resources and materials. Career centers are often underutilized, and most are eager to have visitors. Some receive grant money to offer services to the community or state, and some actively recruit people with disabilities to their centers.
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
Vocational rehabilitation helps people with disabilities prepare for entry or re-entry into the workforce. Your local vocational rehabilitation agency will offer a range of programs, resources, and services to help you prepare for and find work. The range of programs offered by these agencies varies from state to state, so research your local vocational rehabilitation agency, determine what programs and services you are eligible for, and register.
In most cases, these organizations exist to help you become job-ready and find employment. Some may also train you in independent daily living, orientation and mobility, and access technology. These organizations will also know about other available resources in your community. To find a local or state agency near you, use the AFB Directory of Services.
Stephen-Bradford Search
Stephen-Bradford Search is an executive consultant search firm that aims to connect the right person with the right job. The motivation and passion from their personnel explodes through the phone. Their core values are accountability, growth, integrity, positive culture, and respect.
The firm is dedicated to improving people's lives by identifying talented individuals and is known as a forward-thinking, highly ethical search firm. Its expertise is in marketing, sales, business development, account management, and operations across many industries, including advertising, beauty/luxury, consumer goods, digital/social media, emerging technologies, and market research for nonprofit organizations. The management and recruiters come from the industries for which they recruit, and they are dedicated to helping clients build their business with people who drive growth and results.
Stephen-Bradford Search is not an organization that specifically recruits people with vision loss. It aims to find talented people who are qualified individuals and can get the job done. That said, the firm does have personnel who are visually impaired, and if you are working in any of the fields listed, this is a recommended organization to contact.
Bender Consulting Services
Bender Consulting Services is a highly successful recruitment firm that specializes in meeting employer needs through the hiring of qualified people with disabilities in technology, science, government, and other employment sectors. The organization has been making a difference for a long time. Joyce Bender also hosts a popular audio show specific to disability and the employment process.
disABLED Person, Inc.
disABLEDperson, Inc. is a nonprofit public foundation with the mission to reduce the extremely high unemployment rate among the disabled by providing online recruitment solutions as well as program initiatives. A primary goal associated with this mission is to connect individuals and veterans who have disabilities with employers who are proactive in hiring them. It accomplishes this goal through their disability job matching system.
Another goal is to assist community members in gaining marketable job skills that will translate into sustainable employment via their Microsoft IT Academy program. Recently, the organization has created a partnership with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and an alliance with the United States Business Leadership Network. You can visit the Web portals at the disABLEDperson, Inc. website or the Job Opportunities for Disabled American Veterans (JOFDAV) website.
Eyes on Success
The Eyes on Success audio show is an excellent resource to find interviews with successful people who are blind or visually impaired and get employment tips. There are over 200 shows accessible online that offer tips on job seeking and the use of resources. Find out about great blindness-related resources and inspirational stories.
NFB Where the Blind Work
The National Federation of the Blind has a resource that allows persons who are blind or visually impaired to post information about their work. Where the Blind Work is a portal for learning about the work done by people who are blind.
Project Aspiro
Project Aspiro, a website developed by the World Blind Union, focuses on addressing employment issues specific to needs in Canada and abroad. This is a career exploration resource that aims to illuminate employment options and programs outside of the US.
Final Thoughts
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, take the time to reflect on your path and the paths of others. Reach out to the community and spread the doctrine of the employability of people who are blind or visually impaired and those with other disabilities. The year has brought more positive strides and steps toward making a difference.
In tougher markets, workers in the skilled trades can often find some stability. Individuals who have specific training and experience in a trade will often be able to find or create work. To pursue work in the skilled trades, your compensatory blindness-related skills need to be above par, which amplifies the importance of the work of vocational rehabilitation agencies and community rehabilitation providers around the United States. It is not enough to get a job—a person has to be able to maintain employment.
Job seekers need to dig in and be creative about their job search. Invest in your job search—join a professional organization or trade-related organization that allows contact to professionals in a similar field—and leverage your personal network. Create your own connections and use them appropriately. Make the coming year even more successful by creating opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.
