Strategies for Preparing a Well-Rounded and Self-Assured Job SeekerThe Life Cycle of the Employment

Process for Your Students with Disabilities

Association on Higher Education and Disability

(AHEAD) Conference, July 2012

Today’s Presenters•Laura Cutway, Georgetown University

Law Center

•Veronica Porter, Northeastern University

•Sara Mahoney, US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy

Objectives•Setting the stage for employment of people

with disabilities

•Best Practices from Georgetown University Law Center and Northeastern University

•Disclosure and Accommodations

•Workforce Recruitment Program and Schedule A Hiring Authority

Setting the Stage- Employment of People with Disabilities

•Current Disability Employment StatisticsMay 2012

•Labor Force ParticipationPeople with disabilities: 20.7%People without disabilities: 69.4%

•Unemployment RatePeople with disabilities: 12.9%People without disabilities: 7.7%

Work experience makes a difference

Self-Advocacy skills impacts success

Employment of People with Disabilities:The Reality

Georgetown University Law Center

•Collaboration with the Career Center

•IMPACT Career Fair

•Preparing Students for WRP Interviews

History of the Disability Resource Center at NU.

What happens after students graduate?

Northeastern University

Wrap Around Experiential Education Model for Success – NuConnect*

Strategic Partnership

DRC, CS, Co-op

Working Group

External Partners

Employer Advisory

Committee

Resources

* A Strategic Partnership between the Co-op Program, Disability and Career Services

Strategic Partnership

DRC, CS, Co-op

Working Group

External Partners

Employer Advisory

Committee

Resources NuConnect Model

Advocacy Collaboration

Knowledge and

ResourcesFeedback

Purpose: Target employers in various

industries to create mutually beneficial partnerships

Goals: Develop strategies to help students

be better prepared for interviewing, working

Share best practicesIncrease employment opportunities

Employer Advisory Committee

LinkedIn group

to share

resources

Employer-in

residence at the

DRC for info

interviews

Targeted

promotion for

specific positio

ns

Employer

panel at NE

AHEAD

Internship/Coop

programs for long-term

relationship

building

NuConnect Initiatives

SUCCESSESIncreased awareness,

knowledge and expertise

Participation in the wrap-

around model

Sharing of information

and resources

Increased success of students in

obtaining employment

When to disclose?• Resume?

• Employer calls for an interview?

• Interview?

• Pre-offer?

• Post-offer?

• After work has started?

• After a problem?

• Never?*Aase and Smith, 1989 and Witt, M. A., 1992

Disability Disclosure and Accommodation Request - VideoWRP Video Series: http://www.dol.gov/odep/wrp/Videos.htm

Think about it…•Explore feelings about disability

•Identify necessary accommodations

•Determine who is the correct person to tell and how to contact that person

Disclosing• How specific?

▫Use language that is informative but non-threatening

• Describe personal skills that show essential functions of the position will be met

• Any functional limitations?

• What accommodations are necessary?

• Use a script, if necessary

*Information Used with Permission by COSD

A Student Perspective - IanIan from Northeastern…

Interesting Facts•Employers cannot ask disability-related questions

before an offer of employment is made.

•A medical examination may be required as long as it is required for all entering employees.

•When the need for accommodation is not obvious, an employee may require documentation.

•A request for accommodations can be in plain English (i.e. it does not have to include the words like ADA or accommodation).

What is a reasonable accommodation?

•A modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things usually are done that enables a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy an equal employment opportunity.

•If students are not interested in requesting accommodations, ensure they can perform the essential tasks

Categories of Accommodations Required for Employment

1. Ensure equal opportunity in the application process

2. Enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential functions of a job

3. Enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.

Examples • Making existing facilities accessible

• Job restructuring

• Part-time of modified work schedules

• Acquiring or modifying equipment

• Changing tests, training materials, or policies

• Providing qualified readers or interpreters

• Reassignment to a vacant position

• Interview coach

Transition•How do typical college/graduate school

accommodations translate into the employment setting?

▫Time and a half

▫Reduced distraction testing environment

▫Note-taker

▫Audio recordings

The Workforce Recruitment Program •What is The WRP?

•Who is eligible?

•How do you get involved?

•Additional resources for schools and students

Schedule A Hiring Authority •Exempted hiring authority for people with

disabilities

•Schedule A Letters▫Consists of 2 Parts

Qualified Disability Job Readiness Statement

•Who Qualifies?

Schedule A Tools and Resources

•Schedule A Hiring Guide for Youth

▫Created by Federal Partners in Transition

▫Explains the process and protocol for using Schedule A in youth-friendly language and tone

▫Outlines reasons why a youth might consider Federal employment

Schedule A Tools and Resources

•ABC’s of Schedule A

•USA Jobs ▫Template Schedule A Letter▫Template Cover Letter

•Office of Personnel Management ▫Directory of Disability Program Managers/

Selective Placement Program Coordinators

Resources • Office of Disability Employment Policy –

www.dol.gov/odep

• Executive Order Text –

www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-increasing-federal-employment-individuals-with-disabilities

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN) –http://askjan.org/

• Reasonable Accommodations for Attorneys with Disabilities –

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/accommodations-attorneys.html

• Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) - http://www.cosdonline.org/

• Schedule A Hiring Guide for Youth - www.dol.gov/odep/pdf/20120103ScheduleA.pdf

• ABC’s of Schedule A – http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/abcs_of_schedule_a.cfm

Resources • OPM’s DPM and SPPC Database -

http://apps.opm.gov/sppc_directory/searchlist.cfm

• USA Jobs Schedule A Templates – http://www.usajobs.gov/IndividualsWithDisabilities

• Workforce Recruitment Program- www.wrp.govwww.dol.gov/odep/wrp/Videos.htm

• Entry Point –http://ehrweb.aaas.org/entrypoint/

• Partnership for Public Service Youth Site -www.makingthedifference.org

• National Collaborative for Workforce and Disability/Youth- www.ncwd-youth.info

Questions and Contacts•Laura Cutway

▫lmc228@law.georgetown.edu

•Veronica Porter▫v.porter@neu.edu

•Sara Mahoney ▫Mahoney.sara@dol.gov