Disabilities And You Student Edition 2

Felicia Welch; 1/2010

Disabilities And You

An unofficial mini-guide for adults with disabilities and life after high school


Facts about disabilities

Can be physical, learning, or developmental

Even with a disability, you can still work towards your goals; even if you need to go at it a different way


Case in point: Had Asperger’s Syndrome


Has Dyslexia

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law: Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The Who (cont.) [1.]individuals with disabilities are defined as persons

who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities”

Ex: caring for one's self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, learning

This also includes may those maintained by medications or assistive hardware/software (ex: [1.]”AIDS, alcoholism, blindness or visual impairment, cancer, deafness or hearing impairment, diabetes, drug addiction, heart disease, and mental illness…”)


Disability Law: Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The What Section 504 states that any

[2.]“program and activity receiving federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service…” is required to provide reasonable accommodations.

[2.]http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=15

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law: Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The What (cont.) Reasonable accommodations are

[1.]“reasonable steps to accommodate your disability unless it would cause the employer undue hardship.” Undue hardship is defined as [3.]“an

action requiring significant difficulty or expense…in light of factors such as an employer's size [less than 15 people], financial resources, and the nature and structure of its operation.”

[3.] http://www.eeoc.gov/types/ada.html


Disability Law: Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The What (cont.) Examples of reasonable

accommodations:Speech-to-text softwareRevised work schedulesAn Interpreter*Changing Policies

*: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html More information on reasonable accommodations : http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/accommodation.html

http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law: Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Where The ADA and Section 504

Applies: Any work/volunteer agency/site with

15 or more employees At any and all schools and vocational

training agencies

Disability Law and School

Unlike in grammar school and high school, YOU are responsible for signing up for whatever services you need in college.

There are, however, disability coordinators that help you get various accommodations

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law and School (cont.)

Script activity 1!

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law and School (cont.) Things to remember:

Always give your professor your accommodations sheet at the beginning of the semester

Though it can vary with every school, it’s usually best to submit testing forms at least one week before the actual test if needed.

Also remind your professor if you are taking an exam in the testing center at least 3 days in advance (in person or email)Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law and School (cont. again) Though it’s very rare, professors

may sometimes forget to give you your accommodations. In these cases, it is best to speak

to the professor about why it’s important for you to have accommodations and that it is your federally mandated right to receive them.

Felicia Welch; 2010

Script 2!

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law and Work

[4.]Special Note: If you are receiving SSI or SSD, you may lose it if you make $1,000 or more per month.

[4.]http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/sga.html

Felicia Welch; 2010

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law and Work (cont.)

[1.]“Section 504 protects… individuals with disabilities who, with reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job for which they have applied…”

[1.] http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/resources/factsheets/504.pdf

Disability Law and Work(cont. again) Depending on what career you

go into, you may or may not need accommodations.

If you find that you need accommodations, it is best to let your supervisor AND human resources know as soon as possible (and put it in writing)

Felicia Welch; 2010

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Law and Work(cont.)

An important thing to note is that employers are not allowed to inquire employees about their disabilities and/or the severity of their disabilities [4.]So it’s important to be proactive

and let your employers know what you need in order to be an effective worker

[4.] http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeo/overview_practices.html

Disability Law and Work

If you find that you are not getting the accommodations you need, there are steps that you can take to fight for your rightsThey are usually in the back of the

employee handbook under “Grievance Procedures”


Script 3 for the win!

Felicia Welch; 2010

Great Starter Career Options

When starting out in the workforce there are various programs and places to begin.

Hireds.com and AmeriCorps are just two of many places to begin a career or start a job

See Disability Links for other Links

Felicia Welch; 2010

Hireds.com

Powered by Monster.com, Hireds.com is an easy to use website that works to increase diversity in the workplace by catering only to those with disabilities.Like monster.com, people can

post their resumes and apply to a variety of jobs; where employers seek only the most qualified for positions Felicia Welch; 2010

Felicia Welch; 2010

AmeriCorps: What is it?

AmeriCorps is a federal program which is a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service

It allows people from ages 17+ to work volunteer hours in exchange for a bi-weekly stipend as well as an education award at the end of their term

Felicia Welch; 2010

AmeriCorps:Terms and Hours

As an AmeriCorps employee you may complete full time or part time hours, in order to get education awards:

Full-time: 1700 hours in one (1) year/ $4,725 in education awards

Part-time: 900 hours in one (1) year/ $2,362.50 in education awards

You must complete your required hours in order to get your education award.

Felicia Welch; 2010

AmeriCorps: General Info

In AmeriCorps there is a large variety of things you can do to complete your required hours

Ex: Painting houses Tutoring Clerical (office) work Volunteering time with seniors And much, much more!

Felicia Welch; 2010

AmeriCorps (In Conclusion)

AmeriCorps provide many opportunities to gain connections in the city

AmeriCorps can help you gain experience in both the working world and in life

AmeriCorps also looks great on your resume ;-)

Felicia Welch; 2010

Disability Rights Links

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/resources/factsheets/504.pdf

http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=15

http://www.eeoc.gov/types/ada.html http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/accommodation.html http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeo/overview_practices.html Job/Career Info Links

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/sga.html http://www.hireds.com/index.php http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com/Default.aspx http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/nymakesworkpay/index.cfm



http://www.eeoc.gov/types/ada.html

http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/accommodation.html

http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeo/overview_practices.html

http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com/Default.aspx

Felicia Welch; 2010

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!!!

Disabilities And You Student Edition 2

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Transcript of Disabilities And You Student Edition 2