How to Find a Job if You Have a Disability

If you are disabled, finding suitable work can be challenging, but here are some techniques that could help you out.

Steps

1. Assess your abilities. What activities can you do without interference from your disability? Make a list of job possibilities based on your unique abilities.
2. When looking for jobs, some will offer compulsory interviews to any disabled applicant. Make the most of these to bag yourself some interview practice, even if you're not that interested in the job.
3. When filling in application forms, only declare your disability if they specifically ask for it. If you get an interview without mentioning your disability, ring up a couple of days beforehand to tell them about your disability.
4. Look for the 'Positive about disabled people' icon on job advertisements. Then you can be sure that they will be well-equipped and wheelchair accessible (or willing to make adjustments for you.)
5. Contact government agencies that serve people with disabilities. Often, a state employment office or vocational rehabilitation center can assist with job hunting and placement.
6. Ask around to see whether anyone knows about any work that you could do.

Tips

• Don't be discouraged. It takes a lot of work for anyone to find a job.
• Be confident
• It is illegal (in the UK, at least) for employers to discriminate against you on the grounds of a disability. Make this law work for you. (Jobs like policing, lifeguard etc. are exempt from these laws, for obvious reasons.)
• The Social Security Administration knows that the disability wage is not enough to live on. Consider taking up a manageable part-time position to supplement your income.

Warnings

• A single person in the U.S. may (as of 09/01/06) net $860 per month in earnings while still collecting disability. If you earn more than this, your disability check will be proportionately lower.