Getting a Job

The DC Department on Disability Services (DDS) provides the residents of DC with information, oversight, and coordination of services for people with disabilities and those who support them, such as service providers and employers. DDS has two Administrations ( Rehabilitation Services Administration & Developmental Disabilities Administration ) that oversee and coordinate services for residents with disabilities through a network of private and non-profit providers.

REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (RSA) - focuses on employment, ensuring that persons with disabilities achieve a greater quality of life by obtaining and sustaining employment, economic self-sufficiency and independence. RSA’s program is designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and informed choice, in order to prepare for and engage in gainful employment 34 C.F.R. § 361.1

• The RSA Youth in Transition Services Units provide transition services, as defined by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 amended, to coordinate a set of activities for students designed around an outcome-oriented process that supports their movement from school to post-school activities including post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, and independent living. Vocational rehabilitation transition services link students with disabilities, while still in school, with the vocational rehabilitation program to create a continuum of services leading to long-term employment outcomes for eligible students.
• To learn more about RSA’s vocational rehabilitation process for youth with disabilities, refer to the RSA Youth in Transition Toolkit: “Explore the World of Work, Discover Your Career”. It provides the specific steps and activities that youth, schools, and parents need to understand to apply for services and work through the RSA process to receive services and find employment.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION (DDA) - public agency responsible for the oversight and coordination of all services and supports provided to qualified persons with intellectual disabilities in the District of Columbia.

• DDA supports individuals with intellectual disabilities to have the most independence and choice and control over their own lives through person-centered service planning and delivery and increased provider capacity. DDA coordinates home and community services for over 2,000 individuals so each person can live and work in the neighborhood of his or her choosing, and promotes health, wellness and a high quality of life through service coordination and monitoring, clinical supports, and a robust quality management program.

• The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government for People with Disabilities
• Getting Your Foot in the Door at a Federal Agency
• Where Do I Apply?
• Resumes and Cover Letters
• Federal General Schedule and Pay Grades
• Schedule A
• Hiring America’s Heroes
• Job Accommodations
• Other resources
• Disability as Part of Diversity

ACP AdvisorNet is an online community assisting Veterans in developing and achieving their professional goals by connecting them with business leaders from companies nationwide. Through our Q&A forum, Veterans can ask questions about career development, employment, and small business.

Current and former service members, and their immediate family members, are eligible to join the site to receive career advice. Business professionals join as Advisors to answer questions posted by Veterans.

All users are able to see the professional and/or military backgrounds of other users, promoting an environment of accountability and trust. ACP AdvisorNet is a nonprofit venture from American Corporate Partners.

Best Buddies Maryland offers a variety of Best Buddies International programs that create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

These programs include:

• Best Buddies Middle Schools - Best Buddies Middle Schools fosters one-to-one friendships between students with and without IDD. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies Middle Schools helps to create an inclusive school climate for students early on in their educational development.
• Best Buddies High Schools - Best Buddies High Schools fosters one-to-one friendships between students with and without IDD. The high school years are a time of heightened social and emotional development and can be difficult even for those without IDD. Best Buddies High Schools helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person's life.
• Best Buddies Colleges - Best Buddies Colleges fosters one-to-one friendships between college students and adults with IDD and college students without IDD. Historically, adults with IDD have been isolated in home or work environments. Best Buddies Colleges is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in campus and community life.
• Best Buddies Citizens - Best Buddies Citizens fosters one-to-one friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.
• e-Buddies - e-Buddies provides a safe online forum to develop one-to-one friendships between people with and without IDD. Technology is an integral part of society and by participating in e-Buddies, participants can develop the skills necessary to be able to communicate using a variety of sources.
• Best Buddies Jobs - Best Buddies Jobs is a supported employment program that secures competitive paying jobs for people with IDD, therefore enabling them to work as respected individuals. The program develops partnerships with employers, assists with the hiring process, and provides ongoing support to the employee and employer.

BroadFutures provides holistic training and meaningful transitional work experiences for young adults with learning disabilities to empower their potential for positive and successful futures. BroadFutures’ holistic approach incorporates a unique focus on stress tolerance, flexibility and social supports.

• Disability benefits (guides, programs, applications, etc.)
• Civil rights (ADA information, accessibility guidelines, employment rights, complaint procedures, etc.)
• Community life (history of the independent living movement, personal care assistance services, sports and leisure activities, etc.)
• Education (IDEA and IEP information, teaching materials and strategies, classroom supports, college prep, etc.)
• Emergency preparedness (inclusive emergency planning, disaster recovery assistance, emergency service accessibility, etc.)
• Employment (career planning, workforce development, internship programs, hiring and recruiting information, etc.)
• Health care (disability and condition information, services and providers, caregiving options, financial assistance, etc.)
• Housing (housing laws, home buying guides, supportive housing options, home modification, etc.)
• Technology (accessible technology guidelines and standards, assistive information technology, assistive educational technology, financial assistance, etc.)
• Transportation (laws, travel guides, providers, vehicle modification, safety and complaint procedures, etc.)

We are dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

• Providing free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies of government.
• Providing outreach concerning its program services to the American people generally, and to disabled veterans and their families specifically.
• Representing the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses and their orphans before Congress, the White House and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government.
• Extending DAV’s mission of hope into the communities where these veterans and their families live through a network of state-level Departments and local chapters.
• Providing a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow veterans through a variety of volunteer programs.

This innovative online curriculum is designed to teach job search skills to people struggling to overcome barriers to employment, such as disabilities, gaps in employment history or mental health challenges.

This comprehensive curriculum contains six separate courses – the first five focus on a specific phase of the job search process while the sixth focuses on how to successfully keep a job. Each course is fully animated and all information is presented in accessible, easy-to-understand language. Content is reinforced through fun, engaging videos, simulations, interactive exercises, quizzes, exams and a variety of practical opportunities to apply what is learned. All courses are fully narrated.

This guide, written by the Arc of Northern Virginia, covers the following key issues:

• When to start preparing for entry into the workforce.
• What you need to know to prepare for and stay on the job.
• Whether working will affect your child’s benefits.
• Which steps to take now to protect your loved one’s financial future.
• How he or she will get around.

Many people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) look forward to the satisfaction and independence that come with being employed. Unfortunately, the majority of people with ASD struggle to get hired. One reason is that employers aren’t educated about the abilities and skills autistic job seekers possess. Another is that successfully navigating the job search process can be challenging for someone with ASD if they don’t have the right guidance and assistance.

If you’re a job seeker with autism or their caregiver, take advantage of the resources, advice, articles, and other information provided in this guide.

GettingHired launched in 2008 with the sole purpose of helping people with disabilities find gainful employment.

We strive to empower an underserved workforce of professional job seekers with disabilities and create sustainable employment growth through a variety of opportunities.

GettingHired understands the frustration of being a job seeker and is constantly evolving to suit the needs of its users, through accessible systems, easy-to-use job search, professional development, industry information, employer training and our custom social community.

Providing a safe and secure environment is top of mind and our employer partners have a vested interest in hiring the most talented individuals for their companies. We seek to work with companies who are making a concerted effort to hire people with disabilities and are constantly looking to improve their program through best hiring training programs for a variety of teams.

The HEATH Resource Center gathers and provides information about national, post-secondary education supports for individuals with disabilities. The Center:

• Participates in national conferences, trainings, and workshops
• Develops training modules
• Publishes resource papers, factsheets, guides, directories, and website information on accessibility, accommodations, financial aid, career development, independent living, and rehabilitation
• Fosters a network of disability professionals

The HEATH Resource Center is managed by George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development in partnership with the HSC Foundation and the National Youth Transitions Center.

Hiring Our Heroes is a U.S. Chamber of Commerce program that provides military veterans and their spouses with:

• Information about local hiring fairs
• Access to employment workshops, resume building, job search, and survey tools
• Personal and/or professional networking opportunities

Prospective employers may also:

• Commit to hire heroes
• Post jobs
• Search resumes
• Mentor job seekers
• Volunteer at workshops
• Sign up for hiring fairs

LAYC provides multi-lingual, culturally sensitive programs in the following areas:

• Educational Enhancement
• Social Services
• Workforce Investment
• Community Wellness
• Art + Media
• Advocacy

Linden provides rehabilitative services to people with disabilities that help them get and keep community jobs with a wide variety of small, medium and large businesses, government agencies and within Linden’s own commercial printing and warehousing businesses.

At M&L Special Needs Planning, we feel that access to the right information is the key to planning a successful future. In keeping with our goal to keep you informed, and to provide you with the tools to enable you to plan a happy and successful future for your family, we have compiled a list of special needs resources.

Develops and supports mutually beneficial job placements to meet the workforce needs of local employers and the vocational goal of young people. The Foundation was established to enhance employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. Support to distribute goods and services to transitioning youth through the LEAP Awards program.

National Disability Institute is most recognized for harnessing the power of collaboration with government, financial institutions, the business community, community nonprofits, and institutions of higher education to advance new opportunities for work, income production, savings, and asset building for people with disabilities.

What We Do
NDI's tools for change include public education, policy development, training and technical assistance activities, and innovation pilots and demonstrations.

Our Core Competencies

• Tax Preparation
• Financial Education
• Asset Development
• Employment
• Public Benefits Planning
• Public Policy

Our Priorities

• Improve collaboration across federal agencies to advance a better economic future for individuals with disabilities.
• Align public policy to promote work, saving and asset accumulation.
• Develop and document pathways to improved economic self-sufficiency for youth and adults with disabilities.
• Inform, educate and improve financial capability of youth and adults with disabilities.
• Build and grow the Real Economic Impact Network through marketing and outreach activities and innovative projects.

Powered by Student Veterans of America and in conjunction with The HSC Foundation, the National Veterans Center’s (NVC) mission is to empower military veterans to reach their full potential. This partnership between non-profit organizations accomplishes its mission by acting as a central conduit that pairs service providers from the public and private sector with veterans and military families seeking resources. The NVC serves as America’s laboratory for developing, testing, and digitally delivering new solutions to veterans in order to assist them with overcoming disability, completing their education, finding meaningful employment, and thriving in their communities.

Users of the online, interactive Career Navigator tool can take a career assessment to determine career paths that best fit them. They learn about each career including job outlook, pay potential, and the amount of education or training required. The Career Navigator connects students to local educational institutions where they can obtain the related post-secondary education. Additional resources are provided to further empower youth and young adults to make informed decisions about their careers. Real-life success stories of New Futures Alumni are also shared.

As a person with a disability, you may hesitate to look for work. You can be unsure whether or not to make a disability known when applying for employment.

In today’s job market, however, that shouldn’t be an issue. A disability doesn’t prevent you from having the job of your dreams. The job market accommodates people with a wide range of qualifications, passions, talents, and abilities.

Opportunities can be found in all fields: nursing, business, media, technology, law, social sciences – you name it. There are people with disabilities working in almost all industries.

In this guide you will find:

• Job-Search 101 - All You Need to Know
• Know Your Rights - All You Need to Know About ADA
• 73+ Careers for People With Disabilities
• Top 9 Job Sites for People With Disabilities
• FAQ - Everything You Need to Know
• Other Resources

Note: This guide is mainly for US readers, but there’s useful advice for everyone else as well.

To access the full guide: Go to https://novoresume.com/career-blog/disability-career-guide.

The Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs is a collection of resources for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and American Job Centers (AJC) to deepen their understanding of each other’s services and structure to improve the lives of job seekers with disabilities through employment. The checklists, guides, and fact sheets in the toolkit leverage CILs’ knowledge and skills on disability issues and community resources and AJCs’ training and employment services to maximize the talents and skills of both partners and create a win-win-win for CILs, AJCs, and for job seekers with disabilities.

By Guest Author Ed Carter, Creator of Able Futures

A diverse government is essential for effectively serving the people it represents. While all minority groups are underrepresented in politics, people with disabilities are often left out of the discussion entirely. As a result, many teens and young adults with disabilities decide to pursue careers in politics to give a louder voice to the disabled community—and you can too!

Choosing Your Path

As a young person, it’s important to start thinking about career awareness, exploration, and preparation before jumping into a career path. Even if you’re just entering high school, now is the time to begin developing career goals and considering your options. Research the paths that interest you the most! The Balance Careers explains that there are many different jobs in politics to explore beyond working on a political campaign.

If you want to run for office one day, determine what steps you need to take to set yourself up for success. For example, you may want to attend college and get a bachelor’s degree in political science, business, international relations, or another relevant field. As soon as you can, start seeking opportunities to get involved in local politics. Volunteer for a local campaign, get involved in a cause you care about, attend debates, and network with politicians at community events. While you may have to wait a couple of years before you can run for office, preparing for your campaign now will give you a head start!

Your Campaign Team

If you’re planning a political campaign in the near future, assemble your campaign team! Running for office isn’t easy, especially if you have a disability, but your campaign team will help you navigate any barriers that may be in your way.

A campaign manager typically oversees the entire campaign process, so this should be one of the first people you hire. Look for someone who is organized, strategic, and a natural leader. You will also need a financial director to raise money for your campaign. Keep in mind that you will have to build a campaign website to accept donations and communicate with voters. Consider hiring a web designer to create an attractive and intuitive site to establish your online presence! You can use job boards like Upwork to find a freelance web designer who will fit your campaign budget. Finally, you’ll need to assemble a team of canvassers to go door-to-door and persuade voters to vote for you.

Running for office is a great way to get involved in your community and improve the representation of people with disabilities in government. No one should be discouraged from becoming a political candidate because of a disability! While you may face some obstacles, you’re bound to learn many new skills and meet a lot of great people along the way.

About the Author

Ed Carter created Able Futures to help people with disabilities prepare for a secure and stable financial future. About 10 years into his career, he saw a need for financial planners who specialize in helping individuals and families living with disabilities - he has worked with clients of all ages, backgrounds and incomes.

ServiceSource is a leading nonprofit disability resource organization with regional offices and programs located in nine states and the District of Columbia. We serve more than 15,700 individuals with disabilities annually through a range of innovative and valued employment, training, rehabilitation, housing and other support services. ServiceSource directly employs more than 1,500 individuals on government and commercial affirmative employment contracts, making us one of the largest employers of people with disabilities nationwide.

Whether you are an individual with a disability, a government contracting officer or a local business owner, ServiceSource is committed to meeting or exceeding your needs and expectations.

Student Veterans of America envisions a nation where all student veterans succeed in post-secondary programs and contribute to civilian society in meaningful ways. SVA provides the resources and support to do so through five major initiatives. We maintain a commitment to Support Chapters through leadership training, grants, and networking opportunities that facilitate the development of successful student-run organizations. An essential component of chapter work is advocating for supportive campus services and programs. At the national level, SVA’s Advocacy efforts ensure policies are not only supportive for veterans in their transition to school and employment, but also for the entire military community. To best serve this large community, SVA Develops Partnerships with other organizations to provide scholarships, mentorships, employment, and benefits counseling. Yet, our support doesn’t end at graduation. Student Veterans of America is developing a networking program that will Connect Alumni veterans with even more professional opportunities. These initiatives are designed to bring veterans closer to their degrees, yet little data exists on student veterans' academic performance. By Investing in Research, SVA hopes to fill that void and showcase student veteran success.

The Sunflower Bakery Pastry Arts Training Program provides some 400 hours of bakery training and employee development, as well as a supervised internship, to adults with developmental or other cognitive disabilities, preparing them for employment.

The training includes the following:

• 250 pastry instruction hours learning an extensive, customized curriculum in an inclusive commercial kitchen
• 65+ employee development training hours, including ServSafe Certification training
• 90-100 in-house, on-the-job training hours ( 2 days/week for 5 hours each day)
• an internship in a local business, acquired and monitored with the assistance of Sunflower’s Employment Specialist and/or an already-committed service provider, for three to six months

Sunflower offers an extensive, in-depth skilled pastry training program. Pace and curriculum are customized to the individual under the tutelage of professional pastry chefs. In area businesses, students as interns hone their skills en route to employment while receiving a work stipend. Sunflower’s Employer Partners provide job readiness assistance, including mock interviews, internships or job trials.

VCare, LLC provides professional and in-home developmental disability training and consulting services in the following areas:

• Special Education
• Nursing
• Transitional Living
• Employment
• Recreation

The What can YOU do? Campaign for Disability Employment encourages employers to recognize the workplace potential of people with disabilities. The outreach initiative connects people with disabilities, employers, family and educators with resources such as:

• Downloadable discussion guides
• Links to job accommodation information
• Links to job/career training opportunities
• Links to work experience/leadership programs
• And much more!

A Wider Circle assists individuals and families in transition by providing:

• Free enrollment in intensive, multi-session job preparedness, financial planning, stress management, nutrition, and parenting
• Homegoods to formerly homeless families and veterans
• Emergency response for new mothers, victims of fires or crime
• Shelter enhancements (e.g., painting and landscaping)
• Holiday food baskets and toys

ART Options is an arts-infused program designed to support the development of vocational, social and life management skills for people with disabilities ages 16 and older in Washington, DC. Consistent with other St. John’s Community Services’ programs, ART Options operates in community settings in which participants enhance their personal and professional skills and prepare for and attain careers in the art field. ART Options focuses on applied, fine arts and digital design instruction, internships and jobs, public programming, museum and gallery visits, and the development of salesmanship and communications skills guided by the participant’s goals. 

ART Options utilizes the resources of the vast Washington, DC arts community including the Smithsonian Institute, National Gallery of Art, fine and contemporary art studios, and DC Public Libraries. This enables artists with and without disabilities to develop relationships and collaborate on projects in an array of creative and inclusive  environments. Supported by highly trained staff, artists with disabilities will hone their artistic talents, attain marketable skills, strengthen their  self-esteem and prepare for opportunities in the arts community.