So you have a disability and you want to get a job. Where do you start and how do you get the results you want? First things first. You need to determine, just like anyone else, what type of work you are interested in doing and can perform adequately. This true for everyone but is even more important for a person having a disability. The second thing you need is a map or guide to get you from where you are now to where you want to be, happily employed.
As a former Job Developer, specializing in assisting people with disabilities, the first piece of advice I want to give is that if you want to work and are willing to persevere, you can get a job. It often times requires more patience than you have ever needed before and it may be more emotionally hard to deal with rejections, so you may need to develop a little thicker skin. Also, you may require the assistance of a job developer who can work with employers that are willing to hire someone with your type of disability, or who can carve a job for you, but you can get a job.
Having two children of my own who have disabilities and who have experienced challenges with employment, I understand how slanted getting a job feels to a person who has a disability. Probably the hardest thing for my children, and for me as their parent, was dealing with the emotional and psychological aspects. We went so often between being angry, to feeling the hurt of rejection, that we didn't really know what we felt more of at the time.
Most employers are good people who want to make the best decisions for their company. But even employers who appear hesitant, who don't seem to want to give you a chance, are just people who are misinformed or who are afraid to take a risk that they aren't sure they can handle. A Job Developer can help you overcome most, if not all, resistance most employers may have in hiring a person with a disability. The few employers who truly have poor attitudes actually do you a favor. They identify themselves as people who you don't want to work with and that is a blessing because it saves your time to keep going to discover employers who would be great people for whom to work.
But how do you compete in a world where your competition are people who appear to be able bodied? Knowing some tricks of the trade, will help you with getting over the hump and on your way to a job you can perform in well. Let's start with the assumption of other people being more "able" than those who have disabilities. Some people appear to be "normal" but struggle with hidden disabilities, such as physical, physiological or emotional conditions you can not see but that affect or impair their functioning. It may not seem obvious but it is still a type of disability. Whether you can see the disability or not, it is important to realize that everyone has strengths and limitations, even people who appear without disabilities.
Some people get stuck in the assumption that no one will hire them because of their visible disability. I encourage those who feel this way to reconsider their position. My colleague, who worked across the hall, was a man who no one thought could get a job. As a young man he dove off a cliff with some friends one day and broke his neck, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. He had a wife and family to support. He worked a full-time job at his customized work station where he controlled his computer using a sip and puff straw.
Each morning he came to work in his wheelchair and I often saw him get off the bus and enter the building where he patently waited for someone to unlock his office door. I often assisted him with getting to his workstation and others helped him with other personal needs during the work day as he did not have a personal attendant. What did my friend have that others did not, well for one an attitude of patience and confidence. In addition, he had all the things that his employer wanted. He came to work consistently on time and worked his full schedule, he was patient with himself and others, and he focused on what he could do, not on what he could not. He didn't have an attitude, he got along well with his coworkers who were more than willing to support him when and if he needed it. Stop and think for a moment, what you would be looking for in an employee if you were the person hiring? Take a minute to reflect on those qualities and make note of them.
Having talked to hundreds of employers throughout the years, I can tell you that if you are willing to come to work on time, show up when you need to be there on a consistent basis, be honest, do your job well and get along with others in the workplace, then you have what employers are looking for and you are needed in the workplace.
What is even better than a job? A career because a career is ongoing and it gives you knowledge and skills that can get transferred to other work situations instead of piece mill jobs that may or may not share the same set of knowledge or skill sets. Most people make the mistake of applying for jobs that are being advertised without really thinking about whether it is a job suited for them. Don't fall for that way of thinking. You see, you need to develop a future that includes a career, not just a job. Developing a career means that you need to do your research.
Know your resources
One of the best resources around is free for those who have an disabilities. In every state there are agencies that specialize in helping people who have disabilities to obtain and retain employment. The Division of Rehabilitation Services (names vary from state to state) can help you to develop a game plan to establish a career.
They can help you with retraining on-the-job, or can assist with college tuition, depending on what your plan for employment directs. You are a participant in developing your plan so do plan to be an active and cooperative participant. This agency can also help with getting you the type of services to help you in restoration options, such as hearing aids, eye glasses, assistive devices, counseling and more.
They can help you in developing a solid game plan for employment, and to find the services you need for support. They can assist you to obtain advice from a Benefits Advisor on benefits you receive from the Social Security Administration (if you get SSI or SSDI), to advocacy assistance (Client Assistance Program), Job Developers, and vocational evaluations to determine the type of work that is the best fit you.
Taking a look at your job map
What goes in to developing the best fit of a career for you is taking into account all aspects of a custom fit; your strengths, limitations and interests together with your ability to perform the job. Just like when you go on a trip to some other place, you carefully consider all the factors about your trip before you go, you need to consider all the factors that are important in your own career development. Consider the following points when you think about your job search and preparation.
How expensive will it be?
You wouldn't plan to charge full speed ahead into a trip you did not have the funds to pay for would you? Why put your money into job training or preparation that is not a good fit for you or that would not give you a good return on your investment? Some jobs have a lot of appeal but may be very hard to obtain after you get your training, or it may be a job that tends to be hard on you physically, or emotionally. Look ahead and if you don't like what the cost of the job is going to be, look at other job options.
How much time will it take?
If the job requires a four-year degree or even more, are you willing to put in the time? Depending on your stage of life and the responsibilities that you have, this is an important factor to consider. Once you get the degree, what kind of income would you be looking at making? If you can't spend four years, maybe you do have some options that could be obtained with on-the-job training.
Don't forget that even those opportunities to do volunteer work or internships in the field where you would like to work is very useful in that it adds to your knowledge and skill base. Most companies would love to have a volunteer and the opportunity to make friends and show people what you can do is a great way to get your foot in the door. Most employers hire who they know or who come with a recommendation of those they know and trust. Take advantage of your networking skills as it will payoff for you down the road.
What kind of activities will you do on the job?
You wouldn't go on a surfing trip if you were frightened of the water, or were confined to a wheelchair. Similarly, it doesn't make sense to train for a job that you can not really perform the essential functions of (with or without accommodations) either. What does make sense is to consider your strengths, training or experience and what your interests are and then decide if you can perform the essential functions of the job. With enough planning and researching your options, you will save a lot of time and be provided with more assurance that you will enjoy your new career.
Coming full circle
Just like planning ahead for a trip you need to have assurance that, should there be any break downs along the way, that you have a spare tire, just in case. Similarly, although getting on your way to a new and profitable career has it's excitement, it can also be stressful. Remember to pace yourself in your training and in your career. Remember to just take one day at a time and put one foot in front of the other. Stressing yourself out about the process isn't going to help your mental or physical health. Take time to enjoy activities and relationships that are fulfilling and purposeful.
In the end, your trip is only as enjoyable as coming home fully relaxed and peaceful, having enjoyed the journey. The trip most worth taking is the one where you can feel good upon returning home. A very helpful tool for helping to relax, both your body and mind is with the use of hypnosis. Find a Hypnotherapist who is qualified to work with disability issues and who is certified as a Hypnotherapist. This option may also help you to overcome any issues you may have around getting a job or with coping with your disability.
Just as you plan and go on a fun trip, you should enjoy the process of exploration of all your options in job development, and the journey of acquiring the knowledge, and experience to be successful. After all this is one of the most important trips you will take in your lifetime and you are worth it!