Websites for Disabled Jobseekers

Resources to Help Disabled Shape Careers, Find Mentors, Get Training

Sep 25, 2008

A growing number of career development sites enable persons with disabilities to research employers, learn their rights, share strategies, and peer build networks.

There’s more to web-based job-hunting than Monster and CareerBuilder for persons with sensory and physical disabilities, many of whom face limited opportunities and discrimination.

Websites to Help the Disabled Find Work

Disability-specific websites of national organizations are a great place to start, as many include offer employment resources.

For example, blind and visually impaired persons can start with the American Foundation for the Blind whose CareerConnect database lists over 1,000 blind professionals employed in over 300 different job fields in the United States and Canada, and gives blind jobseekers access to prospective mentors in their field.

Proyecto Visión was created by the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities to reduce unemployment among disabled Latinos in the United States. Its website includes information in Spanish and English about employment services and resources such as job banks, resume writing, success stories, assertive technology, worksite accommodation, government-sponsored employment initiatives, legislation, and articles about the transition from school to work.

The eSight Careers Network provides information for job seekers, career counselors, job developers, and prospective employers on best practices for a range of disability employment issues. The site includes articles such as “How to Stand Up for Yourself by Being Assertive,” career assessment tests, a message board for job listings and jobs-wanted ads, career-management tools, audio seminars, and profiles of disability friendly companies.

Any disabled person wishing to network with other entrepreneurs will find an array of information and interaction on this Ontario-based site, including over 500 articles on all aspects of running a business, and a member list of over 700 business owners. The site also has articles relating to business development, online marketing, and cost-cutting strategies.

Websites to Help Disabled Develop Job Advocacy Skills

It’s important to expand knowledge of core issues of disabled employment, such as the ADA, Social Security, and issues surrounding workplace accommodation. Knowledge of what one is entitled to and what approaches have worked in other companies enables jobseekers and employees to advocate effectively.

The Job Accommodation Network is a free service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the US Department of Labor that provides information to jobseekers and employers on accommodations (including all facets of the Americans with Disabilities Act), as well as small business and self-employment opportunities.

The Institute for Labor Relations at Cornell University runs the Employment and Disability Institute (EDI), which runs numerous comprehensive programs in areas of employment research. EDI provides training and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act, employment statistics, entitlement and assistance programs (including Social Security) and their effect on disabled employment.

No one website will make or break your career, but there are many that will give you ideas, remind you that you are not alone, and, over time, yield approaches that get results.

The copyright of the article Websites for Disabled Jobseekers in Job Search is owned by Andrew Leibs. Permission to republish Websites for Disabled Jobseekers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.