Job Search and Telework

A few months ago, I received an email from a young woman with a profound hearing loss who, while she was employed, was seeking a career change. She wanted to become a Youth Counselor for troubled teens. She had the basic qualifications, and there seemed to be many job opportunities, but felt that her disability was creating a barrier for her. She was asking for my advice. I wrote back as follows:

“I can say that, with a specific focus like yours, you are in an advantageous position. You know what kind of job you are looking for and you can focus on that specific area. More than 50% of job openings are never openly posted and over 50% of people report getting their jobs through friends or family. The best job search strategy for you is likely going to be making contact with as many folks as you can within the youth corrections system – letting as many people as you can know that you are keen, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about a career in their field.

How you develop those contacts will be your own personal plan, but it could include volunteer opportunities, showing up when they have booths at career fairs, arranging “informational interviews”, etc. Don’t be afraid to be persistent. In a former job, a young woman applied for a job that I felt she wasn’t qualified for. I didn’t hire her. She called me almost once every three months for about a year – asking if there were openings. (There were several during that time, but I didn’t hire her.) I finally decided to at least give her a chance – she turned out to be one of the very best employees I ever hired! So be present and be persistent!

If possible, make one good contact inside the youth corrections system and ask him/her to be your mentor in your job search efforts. Ask them to meet with you once a month to brainstorm ideas.”

If any readers have additional advice for her, please contact me by email rob@diversityworld.com. 

* * * 

For several years now we have hosted an active email discussion group on the issue of self employment for folks with disabilities (http://www.diversityworld.com/Disability/selfempl.htm).  It has now grown to almost 400 readers from several different countries. Because of their particular disabilities, many members are particularly interested in work-at-home opportunities. Some of them have been successful at becoming “virtual assistants” – contracted employees who can work from home. In recent discussions, several members have cited particular success from freelance work secured through GURU (www.guru.com). While we can’t endorse that site, it might be a good site to check out if you or someone you know is seeking this form of employment.

~ Rob McInnes

WEBSITE: People Working Wikispace

This new website is a project of the Washington Initiative for Supported Employment. The site profiles people with developmental disabilities who have experienced success in the workplace. It is funded by Boeing, Adobe, Wikispaces, and WA State DDD.  It has over 60 (and growing) stories of people with significant disabilities working in paid community jobs, and includes text, photos, and videos.  They are looking for wider distribution, and accept unsolicited stories from around the country and hopefully world.

  See: http://peopleworking.wikispaces.com

PROFILE: TecAccess

Established in 2001 as a home-based industry, TecAccess now employs more than 60 associates with disabilities. TecAccess dispatches staff members to work with private firms, government agencies, and educational institutions to make their Web sites and information technology products accessible. The company helps organizations make their software meet W3C Internet standards and comply with Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for government entities. TecAccess is profiled in the e-Newsletter of Solutions Marketing Group.

  See: TecAccess Profile at Solutions Marketing Group
http://www.disability-marketing.com/profiles/tecaccess.php4 

E-NEWS: Quarterly newsletter from the Job Accommodation Network

The JAN E-News is a quarterly online newsletter of the Job Accommodation Network. Its purpose is to keep subscribers informed about low-cost and innovative accommodation approaches; the latest trends in assistive technologies; announcements of upcoming JAN presentations, media events, trainings, and Webcasts; and legislative and policy updates promoting the employment success of people with disabilities.

The most recent newsletter of the Job Accommodation Network is full of great content, including:

• Information on handling Depression in the Workplace

• Workplace accommodations for people with Arthritis

  See: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/ENews/2008/Enews-V6-I2.htm

PROFILE – Neil Romano, Assistant Secretary, Department of Labor - ODEP

Neil Romano was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the second Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2008. As head of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Mr. Romano advises the Secretary of Labor and works with all DOL agencies to lead a comprehensive and coordinated national policy regarding the employment of people with disabilities. Recently, Mr. Romano was interviewed by the Oregon Business Leadership Network.

  See: http://www.obln.org/E-MAG/08/08.05.htm

ONLINE GUIDEBOOK - Entrepreneurship for Youth with Disabilities

The Road to Self-Sufficiency: A Guide to Entrepreneurship for Youth with Disabilities was developed to serve as a resource for organizations working with youth on career exploration and employment options, and policymakers who support youth programs through policy and practice.  The Guide shows how entrepreneurship education can be implemented in programs and offers suggestions on how to introduce self-employment as an option  for all youth, including youth with disabilities. (Available in PDF and MS Word formats)

  See:
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/entrepreneurship_guide.html

EVENT: Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) Annual Conference

“Employment Now! Diversity Planning for Inclusive Employment “

St. John’s, Newfoundland ~ October 5 to 7, 2008

For more than 30 years, the CCRW has been a national leader in employment equity and in promoting and supporting the hiring of persons with disabilities in Canada. Employment Now! will bring experts together to develop a framework for a National Employment Delivery Strategy. CCRW is expecting 200 participants to discuss and move the Employment Equity agenda forward in Canada. Your presence will contribute to the successful planning for diverse and inclusive employment solutions in the Canadian workforce.

More Information Here

EVENT: 2008 Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) Conference

“Working Matters”

Vancouver, British Columbia ~ November 13 – 14, 2008

The CASE Conference attracts leaders in the field of supported and customized employment, and is highly valued by leaders in the field as a high quality networking and professional development event.

More Information Here

EVENT:

“Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow”

Ottawa, ON ~ November 14 - 16, 2008

This year’s event will be an exciting opportunity for students, consumer advocates, service providers, employers and all others interested in exploring key issues of equal access to post-secondary education and employment for students and graduates with disabilities. We welcome delegates from across Canada and around the world.

More Information Here