How to use these links:

These resources are designed to promote the employment of people with disabilities via information, education, benefits, and empowerment. These resources are for job seekers and include information about how to look for work, how to get job training, how to choose a career, how to run your own business, assistive technologies, and more. You can also check out our Job Search Links and Job Listings for lists of specific jobs. If you are a student, you should look through our Internship Opportunities.

Youth with Disabilities Web Site
The Social Security Administration's Work Site has a section dedicated to youth with disabilities. Information in this section is helpful to youth with disabilities, their parents and families, teachers, and counselors. Consumers can find information about transition and employment issues, updates on government programs, policies and projects, and personal experience articles about children with disabilities.

Interagency Federal Web Site Serves Disabled Job Seekers
The DisabilityInfo web site provides a single place on-line where people with disabilities, service providers, and advocacy organizations can find links to information about federal disability-related programs and services, including those related to employment.

The topics covered by the DisabilityInfo site include employment, education, housing, transportation, health, income support, technology, community life, and civil rights. The employment section leads to many further subsections including: resources for employers; information on federal employment; links and resources on the process of interviewing, recruiting, and hiring for jobs; information on job accommodations; links to job and resume banks, including some targeted at people with disabilities; links related to employment-related laws and policy; information on small business and self-employment; information useful for job seekers currently receiving social security; information on state and regional economic assistance; information on tax laws that may benefit some job seekers with disabilities; resources for war veterans; and links for people interested in working abroad.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
The Office of Disability Employment Policy within the U.S. Department of Labor has launched this web site that discusses disability and employment policy.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management
The Office of Personnel Management's web site provides people with disabilities with information on federal job opportunities, accommodation issues, benefits, and telecommuting.

U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration
The US Department of Labor's Division of the Employment Training Administration offers a general information page with links to various federal programs and agencies that deal with employment issues including the Ticket to Work Program and the Work Incentives Improvement Act, the New Freedom Initiative, The Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, and the Department of Labor Office of Civil Rights and the Welfare to Work Program. Internal to the site, are various pages containing a disability library, answers to FAQ regarding employment, success stories of persons with disabilities who have found employment, and information on the One-Stop career network.

U.S. Department of Justice ADA Information Services
The US Department of Justice now offers a list of telephone numbers, addresses, and websites for assistance in understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act and Equal Employment Opportunity Laws. Included in this list is a toll-free information line about the ADA.

Need more information on Ticket to Work?
As of April 2002, over 900 tickets have been assigned to people using Social Security Services in the first 13 states to be part of the program. Over 23,000 people have called the Ticket to Work information hotline (1-866-968-7842) since it opened. Go to their web site to find out more about this program to get people with disabilities employment.

Money Smart Education Program
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has a free training program called Money Smart, geared to teach adults outside the financial mainstream how to enhance money and backing skills. The program consists of 10 instructor-led modules on basic financial topics and presents an interesting opportunity for organizations interested in training persons with disabilities. Out of the 49 million Americans with disabilities, one in three persons lives at or below the poverty level.

GovLoans.gov en Español
US Deputy Secretary of Labor Steven Law announced the launch of GovLoans.gov en Español and the expansion of the GovBenefits.gov Web site to more than 1,000 federal and state benefit programs. GovLoans.gov En Español offers Spanish-speaking communities greater access to available federal and state loan program information. The GovBenefits.gov Web site is one of the key initiatives of the President's E-Government Strategy which focuses on making government programs and information more accessible to the public. "GovBenefits.gov offers diverse and extensive benefit program information for veterans, seniors, students, teachers, children, people with disabilities, dependents, disaster victims, farmers, caregivers, job seekers, prospective homeowners and more," said Deputy Secretary Law. http://www.govloans.gov/govloans_es.portal

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
This is a basic introduction to US Equal Employment Opportunity Laws, job discrimination etc. It also includes information specific to people with disabilities.

Social Security Administration
The home page of the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides links to information about SSA services. If you are currently receiving SSA benefits, you can receive advice on how to return to work. Individuals interested in working at the SSA itself can receive information on the different possible career paths into this agency; bilingual people and people with disabilities are both encouraged to apply for employment at the SSA. Some of SSA's information is provided in Spanish.

Disability Benefits 101: Working with a Disability in California
This website provides updated and accurate information on employment, health coverage and benefits. It aids people with disabilities to make good financial and employment choices and will also serve as a much-needed tool for benefits planners and service providers. Disability Benefits 101 features detailed descriptions of state, federal and private benefit programs and how they interact with employment. Other features include: articles featuring sample life situations, guides to health coverage and benefit programs, plain language descriptions and complete accessibility for screen readers, access to local and other resources, and glossary.

PASS Plan for Your Future
A plan for achieving self-support, or PASS, allows people with disabilities who want to work, or start their own business, to plan for their future. A PASS lets you set aside money and/or other things you own to help you reach your goal. For example, you could set aside money to start a business, go to school or get training for a job.

Your goal must be a job that will produce sufficient earnings to reduce your dependency on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. A PASS is meant to help you acquire those items, services or skills you need so that you can compete with other persons for an entry-level job in a professional, business or trade environment. If you have graduated from college or a trade/technical school, you are usually considered capable of obtaining such a position without the assistance of a PASS.

Manual Available on How to Get Help from a Vocational Rehabilitation Office
Kick Ass and Win, by Barbara Knowlen is now available for sale via her website and mail. This manual teaches those using the Vocational Rehabilitation system how to get what they need from these agencies. Although the book was originally published in 1991, it contains updates about the changes to the Rehabilitation Act from 1998. The book is based on the experiences of the author in fighting for a stand-up power wheelchair in Kansas, but is geared toward anyone wanting results from VRAs, no matter what their need is. You can buy the book online with a credit card at Barrier Breakers.

California Website on Employment of Disabled People
The California Governor's Committee for the Employment of Disabled Persons (GCEDP) has a website with information about upcoming training opportunities and other events, job search information, links to employment opportunities, and employment resources for the media/entertainment industry.

Diversity World: Disability
This website is focused on "enriching workplaces and reducing employment barriers." The site lists job search engine specific to those with disabilities, including a federal job bank. In addition to providing links to engines, it also links to sites that offer tips on finding employment, legal issues regarding employment, and information on job accommodation. There are also links to sites that are devoted to advancing self-employment among persons with disabilities.

Abilities, Inc.
Abilities, Inc. at the National Center for Disability Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the employment of people with disabilities. To this end, Abilities, Inc. operates the Career & Employment Institute, which provides training and placement services for workers with disabilties. Abilities also operates the National Business & Disability Council, which partners with major corporations to encourage and support them in hiring workers with disabilities.

DiversityShop Resources on Disability and Employment
Are you interested in learning more about disability and employment issues? Are you an employer? An educator? A service provider? A job seeker with a disability? DiversityShop carries books and videos on issues of disability and employment.

Open Futures CD
Although people with disabilities often face barriers moving into the world of work, many do succeed. Many discover exciting jobs inspired by their interests and abilities. The Open Futures CD-ROM features Role Models who have a range of educational backgrounds, occupations, and disabilities.  Their profiles include answers to 6 questions: What is your work?; How did you decide on it?; What was your path?; What challenges did you overcome?; Why is working important to you?; Any advice for young people?

Browse through Role Model profiles in interest categories including building, inventing and designing, helping our communities, doing business, exploring science, technology and nature and more. While this CD-ROM is primarily designed as an individualized learning tool to be used on a personal computer, it could readily be hooked into a digital projector and selected Role Model interviews could become part of a presentation to a larger audience.

Tech Jobs Through Lift, Inc.
Lift, Inc. qualifies, trains, hires and places information technology (IT) professionals who have physical disabilities through contacts with major corporations. This non-profit organization acts both as educational institution and job placement agency. Individuals searching for IT careers can go to Lift for full-time training, one-year of employment with one of Lift's corporate clients and prospective long term employment. Corporate clients get a source of talented, highly motivated professionals, disability awareness training and worksite evaluation. Best of all the services are all free of charge. Contact Lift, Inc. at (908) 707-9840 for more information.

Learn to Develop Negotiated Positions with Employers
The Training and Technical Assistance for Providers (*T-TAP*) project has a new online seminar about job negotiation and customized employment. The customized employment process is based on a match between the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the job candidate with a disability, and the identified business needs of the employer or self-employment business chosen by the candidate. The result is a job that benefits the job seeker and company alike. You can also purchase a series of eight webcasts on customized employment from the website.

Assistive Technology in the Workplace Case Study Videos
The Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA), in conjunction with United Cerebral Palsy, has produced a series of English-language videos including case studies that feature ways assistive technology has helped to create successful employment for people with disabilities. For the first time, all seven of the videos have been combined into a series on a single DVD or VHS. The following video segments are included: Assistive Technology for Learning Disabilities; Alternative and Augmentative Communications in the Workplace; Assistive Technology in Office Settings; Assistive Technology in Production Settings, and Assistive Technology in Food Service Settings. Each video is captioned and available in DVD or VHS format for $75.00 plus S&H. To purchase, call the Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA) at 800.726.9119.

Telecommuting Information
Worksupport.com's Brown Bag Series includes an informational session about telecommuting for people with disabilities. It includes a 35-minute video moderated by Debra Ruh, C.E.O. of TecAccess _ a company at which 75 percent people with disabilities, and successfully practices telecommuting.

Job Seeker Video Profiles Online
Silicon Valley (CA) based Project HIRED helps connect people with disabilities to employers. They use online videos to introduce some of their job-seekers to area employers.

Job Networking in Diverse Communities
Over and over, research and experience have shown "networking" to be the most effective job search tool. Disability-related issues can complicate networking. For job seekers from different cultural backgrounds, networking activities can be considered to be inappropriate. This little paper from the Institute for Community Inclusion contains some helpful tips for overcoming these barriers to networking.

EXCEL! Networking Group
EXCEL! is a career development and education organization created by people with disabilities. The organization works to develop employment and professional opportunities for people with disabilities in the Washington, DC area. Members can interact with a network of professionals and attend workshops about self-assessment, job targeting, resume writing, networking, interviewing and negotiation. There also are monthly meetings to help connect job seekers with mentoring and employment opportunities.

My Own Business: Free Internet Course on Starting a Business
Entrepreneurs who are looking for information on starting or improving their own business should visit www.myownbusiness.org. The Web site provides a 12-session business course in English and Spanish about how to start and run your own business. The best thing is that it is totally free! Users can start the course at any time, and complete it at their own pace. Topics covered in the basic business course include: deciding on a business, the basic business plan, accounting and cash flow, location and leasing.

Training Book Available for New Entrepreneurs
The Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help (Washington CASH) has a training book targeted at individuals who are thinking of starting a new business. The book, entitled "Let's Build a Business! A Workbook for Microenterprise Training Classes" by Wanda Fuller, includes information about personal finance and the basic skills needed to start and manage a business. Washington CASH is a community-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster self-sufficiency and self-employment for low-income women, including women with disabilities, through access to credit, business training and peer support. The organization believes that self-employment offers a viable alternative to welfare dependency and poverty. In addition to their training book, Washington CASH offers training programs and other services in Washington state.

Self-Employment Policy Research at Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies

In 1992, researchers from the University of Montana Rural Institute surveyed state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies on their self-employment policies and procedures for people with disabilities. Ten years later they surveyed VR and visual service agencies again.

The researchers found remarkable growth in VR self-employment policies and procedures. In addition, they discovered notable policy changes including that most agencies currently recognize it is important for consumers to develop their own business plans. Agencies also are providing more guidance for counselors on how to initiate and follow through on a self-employment plan.

To find out more, read the research fact sheet "State Self-Employment Policies: A Decade of Change," or call Diana Spas, Information Coordinator, Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, The University of Montana Rural Institute: Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research and Services (406) 243-5760.

Resources on Self-Employment for Persons with Disabilities
The Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services offers a web resource on information about self-employment for people with disabilities. The website contains fact sheets on self employment, a guide and tools to becoming self-employed, and information on how vocational rehabilitation agencies can help customers become self-employed or start up small businesses. It also has links to additional websites and guides to self-employment in addition to providing ordering information for published books and manuals on self-employment.

AgrAbility Project
The AgrAbility Project promotes independence in agricultural production and rural living to farmers and ranchers in 24 states. In participating states, project staff provide training, site visits, on-farm assessments, technical assistance, and other information to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. AgrAbility staff often show farmers how to use and adapt farm equipment and tools, modify farm operations, develop peer support networks, teach preventative education, and more. California became an AgrAbility state last year joining Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnestoa, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Latino Migrant Workers
El Centro por los Trabajadores serves Latino migrant workers in Champaign County, Illinois, regardless of legal status. This organization provides legal, educational, health, and other services. One focus is on advocacy for Latino migrant workers who are being exploited or taken advantage of by their employers.

National Alliance for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Vocational Rehabilitation Organization
This is a newly formed organization committed to enhancing "career, employment and other opportunities for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers with disabilities and their families that will lead to self-sufficiency by promoting advocacy, collaboration, coordination and sharing of knowledge and resources among individuals and other entities with similar goals."

Virtual Volunteer Opportunities Available
Doing volunteer work can be a good way to boost your resume, earn student internship credit at your university, or obtain a professional reference that you can use with potential employers. The Chamber of Commerce for Individuals with Disabilities (CCID), a national cross-disability consumer volunteer organization, currently has several volunteer opportunities available. Many of their volunteer positions are virtual, which means that volunteers can do their work from anywhere in the world.

CCID is a consumer-run disability organization that uses business principles to improve the economic status of people with disabilities. For more information on CCID activities and how they can help people with disabilities find work via the Internet, go to http://www.chamber4us.org. CCID has many volunteer opportunities available. They opportunities are listed at http://www.chamber4us.org/volunteer.htm.

International Career Publication Available Online for People with Disabilities
Released on the International Day of Disabled Persons, a new online resource from Mobility International USA/National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange titled "Preparing for an International Career: Pathways for People with Disabilities" encourages young adults with international interests to explore careers in the international affairs, exchange and development fields. As one International Affairs graduate, who is blind, shares, "The Berlin Wall fell when I was in high school, and I had a world history teacher who gave us global current events every single day of class. I thought, 'Wow, what an interesting time to be alive. How wonderful if I could have a career affecting it in some way.'"

This downloadable booklet highlights different types of international occupations, job prospects, tips to prepare for an international career, insights from role models and emerging leaders with disabilities in these fields, and the international exchange and fellowship programs they participated in to get them where they are today. Go to the MIUSA website to find information on many activities one can participate in as stepping stones to an international career.

Employment Resource for People with Epilepsy Available
The Epilepsy Foundation's website provides some answers to employment-related questions for people with epilepsy. They also have a Career Support Center, a free informational online tool that provides the tools and supports to get a job. The Center is designed for people who are ready to take a step towards finding, getting and keeping a job. Whether an individual is unemployed, underemployed or just needs another job, the online center is the place to go.

UCP: United Cerebral Palsy Organization
The UCP web resource offers links to employment information for persons with disabilities, including job search tips, legislation information, as well as jobsite accommodations. The organization offers help to high school, college, and graduate students in finding employment, resume writing etc.

Free Online Computer Training in Spanish and English
The GCF Global Learning website now allows you to take a free online computer class. Classes offered include MS Office 1997 or 2000, MS Word 2000, MS Power Point 2000, and MS Excel 2000. You can take a class with an instructor or simply take a class at your own pace without a teacher. Both types of classes are Internet-based and available in both Spanish and English. Check their website to see when each particular class is offered. The website also provides links to register for the classes. Registration is free but necessary in order to participate. This website is available in English and in Spanish.

"It's My Life: Employment" - Transition Framework
Casey Family Programs - an organization that serves children and families in the child welfare system - recently posted the "It's My Life: Employment" guide online. "It's My Life: Employment" is the first in a series of seven guides that make up the It's My Life integrated transition practice framework. Each guide will focus on one of seven life domains including Cultural and Personal Identity Formation, Supportive Relationships and Community Connections, Physical and Mental Health, Life Skills, Education, Employment, and Housing. The guides will provide specific recommendations, strategies and resources for young people transitioning from foster care. This guide is available online.

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