Links to items on this page

Skip to Page Content
Section Menu

DisabilityInfo.gov Menu

You are here: Home > Employment > Employer Resources > Employing People with Disabilities

Employing People with Disabilities

The 2009 Annual Conference, Connecting The Dots: Business Solutions, is for business, community leaders and BLN affiliates that have an interest in hiring, retaining and marketing to people with disabilities. The event will be held September 15-18, 2009 at the National Harbor near Washington, DC. Pre-registration deadline is April 30, 2009.

A captioned video of stories about people with disabilities and businesses working together to create successful mentorships, internships and long term employment opportunities.

Information from the Cornell University Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research about workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities.

Provides information to farmers or farmworkers, their families and caregivers on assistive technology and farm site modifications that enable people with disabilities to remain involved in production agriculture.

Serves USDA employees, their federal partners and members of the public interested in accessibility and ergonomics.

Information including contact numbers and Web sites of federal agencies and other organizations that provide information about the ADA.

Article from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) describes how employers can increase the employment of people who are blind or visually impaired.

Second in a series of portfolios on customized employment - a process for individualizing the employment relationship between an employee and an employer in ways that meet the needs of both. Vol. I is also available.

Strategies and case studies related to assessing assistive technology needs at the workplace. Areas addressed include communication, mobility, environmental modifications and software and hardware options.

Membership organization whose mission is to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services and outcomes for persons experiencing disabilities.

Online audio conference presented by the DBTAC National Network of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Centers took place on April 21, 2009 from 2:00-3:30 PM EST.

A guide on best practices and programs for mentoring young people with disabilities, as well as information on how mentoring programs can benefit youth with disabilities.

Report that highlights noteworthy business practices by which employers are complying with their equal employment opportunity obligations and diversity objectives.

Provides a variety of information and links useful to business in recruiting individuals with disabilities.

Fact sheet addresses questions related to the rights of workers who are blind or visually impaired.

Information on local chapters, conferences and other information from business owners on best practices in hiring, retaining and marketing to people with disabilities.

Fact sheet describes three tax incentives available to help employers cover accommodation costs for employees and/or customers with disabilities, making their businesses accessible for everyone.

Case studies of businesses that have successfully employed people with disabilities. Includes information on best practices, results achieved, recruitment and hiring and successful return to work models for employees who have become disabled.

Article from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) covers a wide range of disability employment interests including many of the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy's (ODEP) programs and policy activity.

Identify job-ready workers with the right skills, review workplace issues and employment laws, locate public workforce services and much more.

A nationwide network of vocational rehabilitation state employment specialists to help employers seeking to hire qualified individuals with disabilities.

Provides an avenue to employment for any job seeker who feels that traditional job search methods do not meet their needs.

Article describing customized employment, and how employers can use it as a strategy to recruit and retain workers of all abilities.

Fact sheet describing ways to individualize or customize the relationship between a job seeker or employee and an employer in ways that meet the needs of both.

Fact sheet regarding JAN, a free service for employers looking to hire qualified individuals with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Labor has made available to employers nationwide a free database of 1,921 job candidates with disabilities seeking employment in a wide variety of fields. Federal employers can tap into this ongoing recruitment resource online through the Workforce Recruitment Program, and private sector, other government and nonprofit employers can request unlimited searches by calling the Labor Department's Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network at 866-327-6669.

Fact sheet on the application of the ADA to job applicants and employees who are deaf or who have hearing impairments.

Provides a summary of the definition of the term disability from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Compliance Manual.

Information about the Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP), a resource for employers nationwide to identify qualified temporary and permanent employees from a variety of fields.

Information on training and placement of workers through employment services, tax credits and other hiring incentives and grants available from ETA.

Provides workers and employers a way to get consistent, accurate information and assistance on labor issues.

Provides information, training and technical assistance to America's business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, advocacy organizations, families and individuals with disabilities.

Information from VA's Office of Human Resources and Administration on recruitment and hiring of people with disabilities.

National employment resource designed to provide trained, educated and experienced veterans with disabilities in line with employers' human resources requirements.

Information concerning the establishment of prevailing and commensurate wages as they pertain to the employment of workers with disabilities at special minimum wages under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

This question-and-answer document explains how the ADA's employment provisions apply to people with diabetes.

Links to regional centers that work closely with local business, disability, governmental, rehabilitation and other professional networks to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) information and technical assistance relating to employment, public services, public accommodations and communications.

Describes how members of minority groups with disabilities are disproportionately represented among the unemployed and provides suggestions for reversing these outcomes.

Fact sheet answering commonly asked questions about disability and employment issues.

Information exploring myths and misconceptions about people with disabilities in order to foster greater sensitivity and understanding.

A review of significant cases in the area of disability rights that the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Civil Rights offers as guidance to help managers understand issues related to employment of individuals with disabilities.

Guidelines for dealing with disability issues in the pre-employment process.

Guide designed to acquaint business leaders with programs and resources that can assist them in hiring people with disabilities.

Brochure for small- and medium-sized businesses interested in increasing their hiring pool by recruiting well-qualified employees with disabilities. This brochure is also available in text form.

A collection of articles from the Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN) about the benefits of employing people with disabilities. The success stories also include accounts of actual employees with disabilities and their professional development in the workplace. Read a success story.

Fear of the unknown and lack of knowledge about how to act can lead to uneasiness when meeting a person who has a disability. Remember - a person with a disability is a person with feelings. Treat him or her as you would want to be treated.

Shortcuts to information and services concerning disability issues.

Fact sheet provides information on the Internal Revenue Services' (IRS) disability-related provisions of particular interest to businesses as well as people with disabilities.

Home page of the organization that is the official voice of America's service-connected veterans with disabilities, their families and survivors.

Learn how to help everyone in your office be productive, efficient and successful. This presentation is part of the TARGET Discovery Series.

Fact sheet explores how businesses can enhance their competitive edge by hiring people with disabilities.

Guide from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy outlines the advantages of hiring people with disabilities. This link opens a PDF document.

Information regarding how your company can support diversity, including employees with disabilities.

Online information and guidance for job seekers, career counselors, job developers and prospective employers about what works best for a range of disability employment issues.

Provides free consulting services and resources to help employers recruit and hire qualified workers, and assists employment service providers and jobseekers with disabilities.

Links to a variety of resources on hiring and managing employees with disabilities.

A September 2007 report on the needs and challenges of American businesses in employing people with disabilities.

Links to extensive information for employers on hiring people with disabilities.

Fact sheet provides information on the rights of people with disabilities under the ADA in relation to employment.

The U.S. Department of Labor has made available to employers nationwide a free database of approximately 2,000 new job candidates with disabilities seeking work in a wide variety of fields.

Extensive summary of employer attitudes and strategies for employing individuals with disabilities.

Guide that explains the basics of workplace accommodations and how employers can work with their employees with disabilities to provide necessary and reasonable accommodations.

Fact sheet provides information for employers on workplace accommodations effective with individuals with a psychiatric disability.

Information about employing people with disabilities, including background on the Americans with Disabilities Act, tax incentives, referral services and helpful links to the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Practical suggestions regarding hiring people with disabilities.

Provides information on employment incentives for businesses including tax credits, business loans and grants, vocational rehabilitation services, assistive technology information and other financial advantages to encourage businesses to employ people with disabilities.

Fact sheet on the issues faced by people with mental illness related to employment and tactics shown to be effective in helping people with mental illness to get jobs.

Fact sheet provides information regarding the federal laws that protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in employment and the job application process.

Fact sheet provides information for employers regarding employment laws related to people with disabilities.

Information and resources from the Cornell University Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research about interviewing, hiring and training employees with disabilities.

Employers and job seekers can find contact information on service providers that are relevant to employment and training.

Fact sheet provides general information concerning the application of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. Includes a video describing the organization's work and the importance of addressing the unemployment rate among people with disabilities.

Fact sheet regarding epilepsy in the workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Information concerning the establishment of prevailing wages and commensurate wages as they pertain to the employment of workers with disabilities at special minimum wages.

The Captioned Telephone (CapTel) is a new technology that allows people to receive word-for-word captions of their telephone conversations.

An interagency partnership that works to expand federal employment of people with disabilities through improved recruiting, hiring, retention and advancement, especially of individuals with targeted or more severe disabilities.

Gateway to extensive information on hiring people with disabilities in the federal government.

Information about this service to help deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals participate in remote meetings, phone calls, videoconferences and multi-party teleconference calls on a functionally equivalent basis.

A federal government service which allows federal employees who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf/blind or have speech disabilities to have equal communication access.

Fill out this quick form to begin using the internet relay service, which allows the user to make telecommunications relay calls to or from the federal government offices.

Information and resources from the National Organization on Disability regarding how to find qualified employees with disabilities.

Fact sheet provides information on using Personal Assistant Services (PAS) in the workplace as a reasonable job accommodation.

Information for employers to ensure maximum benefit when interviewing a person with a disability.

A project of the Institute for Community Inclusion that uses technology and flexible design strategies (or universal design) to bridge the needs of the business community and the employment needs of people with disabilities.

A comprehensive career Web site for hiring veterans of America's military.

Training program for Human Resource managers and trainers about successfully employing persons with disabilities.

Publication from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations addresses issues such as why to hire people with disabilities, management concerns and how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Information about WorkSupport.com which identifies supports that are most cost effective in the workplace for assisting persons with disabilities to maintain employment and advance their careers. This link opens a PDF document.

List of organizations that provide a variety of direct services to persons who are blind and visually impaired, including advocacy and advisory services, information and referral, counseling and employment programs, assistive devices and publications in special format.

List of national organizations which serve as information clearinghouses, referral agencies and legislative advocates for people with physical disabilities, their families and the professionals who work with them.

An association of businesses, rehabilitation service providers, schools and universities, trade unions and associations who are placing people with disabilities into employment using a model of partnership with community business and employers.

Publication from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center suggests ways to promote effective communication between people with and without disabilities.

Answers to questions employers may have regarding reasonable accommodations for individuals with a disability in the workplace.

Free service that facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing guidance on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities and related subjects.

Fact sheet provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008, which went into effect on January 1, 2009 and makes some major changes to the way the definition of disability has been interpreted in the past.

Basic information on job accommodations from the National Center on Workforce and Disability.

Fact sheet from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides an overview of some job accommodations that might be useful for employees with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This link opens a PDF document.

Information and resources about disability and employment from the Cornell University Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research for human resource professionals and businesses.

Developed Bridges from school to work, a program that matches the interests and abilities of young people with the workforce needs of employers, creating and supporting strong employment relationships that work to the benefit of all.

Fact sheet providing information regarding the rights of employees who are injured or disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Fact sheet from the National Center on Workforce and Disability addresses some common myths related to mental illness.

Comprehensive technical assistance resource on the employment of people with disabilities which highlights best practices.

Publication for staff in One-Stop Career Centers and youth and adult service providers who interact with individuals with disabilities. Designed to help clarify what can and cannot be asked about someone's disability.

Resources and statistics on employing and marketing to people with disabilities.

An educational/job-matching organization that brings together employers, advanced communications technology and vocational rehabilitation agencies to enable people with disabilities to train for and work online.

A cooperative program which enables organizations committed to improving disability workplace practices to work with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to develop policies, initiatives and strategies that increase recruiting, hiring, advancing and retaining workers with disabilities.

Fact sheets and other news releases from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) regarding job accommodations for people with disabilities.

Fact sheet describes the kinds of questions employers may ask current employees about their medical conditions in order to update or implement an emergency evacuation plan.

ODEP and NAGC have formed an Alliance to provide NAGC members and others with information and resources to help them advance employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. Read the Agreement.

Information about disability discrimination and requirements under the law that federal agencies provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees with disabilities.

The newest program within the Sierra's Group's Workplace Foundation. The initiative is being launched in order to maximize national connections with businesses, agencies, government and veterans with disabilities in order to stimulate employment.

Provides accessible and comprehensive information to help improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

Fact sheet provides information on recruiting employees with disabilities.

Proving Individuals with Talent Can Help (PITCH) Campaign spokesman, Jim Abbott, is helping to spread the word about the value that people with disabilities can bring to the workplace. Learn more about PITCH, and get answers to your questions about hiring people with disabilities and how parents can help put their children on the path to future employment.

Resources and information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) related to the employment of people with mental illness.

Fact sheet provides guidelines to ensure that persons with disabilities are afforded a fair and equitable opportunity to present their job qualifications during a job interview.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health (ADS Center) hosted a training teleconference on January 27, 2009.

A question-and-answer guide for federal employers on promoting the hiring and advancement of individuals with disabilities.

These stories show how Latinos with disabilities have successfully gained employment, advanced in their careers, achieved educational goals and become community leaders.

Information on a network of state and local One-Stop Career Centers and Workforce Investment Boards that provide recruiting and training services to help businesses hire and retain skilled workers.

Free job matching service for persons with disabilities seeking employment and employers looking to hire people with disabilities. Employers can post jobs and individuals with disabilities can post their resumes at no cost.

Fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) provides tips on recruiting people with disabilities.

Publication highlights guidelines and strategies to help organizations make their meetings accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities.

Helps educate employers about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and provide a basic guideline on how to start accessing this uptapped labor pool.

Report from the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University regarding employers attitudes about people with disabilities.

Provides an overview of federally funded AT programs and information on the creation of the AT Collaborative; a compilation of some of the barriers impacting the use of AT by individuals with disabilities regarding employment; and recommendations to increase and enhance the employment of individuals with disabilities though AT. This link opens a Word document. The report can also be downloaded in PDF format.

Guide for the business community and the federal government identifies steps that can be taken to adopt successful business policies and practices that help the employment of people with disabilities. This link opens a Word document. The report can also be downloaded in PDF format.

Fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Justice answers commonly asked questions about the use of service animals by people with disabilities in places of business. Read a business brief about this topic.

Clarifies the rights and responsibilities of employers and individuals with disabilities regarding reasonable accommodation and undue hardship under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Contains a broad range of resources related to employment of people with disabilities.

State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies help individuals with disabilities to become employed and provide employers with qualified job candidates with disabilities. Connect to the person in your state whose job it is to build and maintain employer relationships.

Training manual assists supported employment customers, service providers and employers in the implementation of supported employment programs.

Provides information on how to help people with mental illnesses and other disabilities find and keep competitive employment within their communities.

Fact sheet outlines how employers, workforce professionals and others can work to identify support needs of individuals with autism in order to create successful employment outcomes.

Employment can play a major role in the recovery of wounded and injured service members. This new fact sheet, available in PDF and Word format, describes programs at the U.S. Department of Labor for returning service members and their employers.

Learn what businesses have to say about the value of employees with disabilities.

Fact sheet about tax incentives available to help employers cover the cost of accommodations for employees with disabilities and to make their places of business accessible.

Information on technology-related assistance and federal laws regarding accessibility.

Information about the Telework Initiative, an overview of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)'s projects, information about telework, resources, success stories and links to a resume bank.

Includes articles, checklists, a glossary and links to useful disability resources to help human resource (HR) professionals better understand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), job accommodations and the employment process as it relates to people with disabilities.

Veterans with service-connected disabilities have received in-depth training in their fields, as well as invaluable on the job experience. They also have transferable skill that can be applied to many industries such as information technology, telecommunications, management, office work, plumbing, construction, carpentry, truck driving, food preparation, health care and more.

September 17, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) have formed an alliance to promote the employment of people with disabilities. This collaboration will provide USBLN members and other employers with information, guidance and access to resources that will help them to recruit, hire and advance workers with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education Programs (EEP), have announced an Alliance Agreement to help advance employment opportunities for managers with disabilities.

Fact sheet from the National Mental Health Information Center provides information about and addresses common issues related to employment of people with serious mental illness who are homeless.

Fact sheet provides information on work at home and telework, which can expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Provides information and addresses misconceptions regarding hiring people recovering from substance abuse.

Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Department of Defense, the WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers with highly motivated post-secondary students with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.

Links to wide range of workforce development resources for employers.

Provides information about new online classes designed to enhance professionals abilities to understand and effectively provide services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. This link opens a PDF file.

Fact sheet provides information on the workplace accommodations process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Employment focused guide on how employers and service providers can utilize assistive technology to make workplaces and service centers accessible to people with disabilities. Contains illustrations of many different types of assistive technologies, including descriptive text on the use of these technologies.

Search the Site

Employment Highlights

Popular Links

Job Accomodations for People with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Information on TBI, including ideas for accommodating people with TBI's in the workplace.
Definition of the Term Disability
Provides a summary of the definition of the term disability from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Compliance Manual.
Medical & Disability-Related Leave
Fact sheet providing information regarding the rights of employees who are injured or disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Epilepsy in the Workplace: Frequently Asked Questions
Fact sheet regarding epilepsy in the workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
Free service that facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing guidance on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities and related subjects.
Database of More Than 1,900 Job Candidates with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Labor has made available to employers nationwide a free database of 1,921 job candidates with disabilities seeking employment in a wide variety of fields. Federal employers can tap into this ongoing recruitment resource online through the Workforce Recruitment Program, and private sector, other government and nonprofit employers can request unlimited searches by calling the Labor Department's Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network at 866-327-6669.