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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

A World In Which People With Disabilities Have Unlimited Employment Opportunities. All of the latest news relating to work opportunities for people with disabilities and what the Department of Labor is doing.

There is a free newsletter to sign up for the latest news and updates from ODEP.  Enter your email address or bookmark the site so you can go back to read new additions.

http://www.dol.gov/odep/

 

JOB ACCOMMODATION NETWORK

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 became effective on January 1, 2009. Although the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has not yet completed the regulations for the new legislation, ODEP’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has developed both a publication and a resource page regarding the Act.

The new publication is JAN's Accommodation and Compliance Series: The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and will be periodically updated as additional information is made public.

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/bulletins/adaaa1.htm

 

JOBS FOR LARYNGECTOMEES

As professional recruiter with over 22 years experience it saddens me to see people so discouraged by the mindless prejudice of prospective employers.

My speciality has been computer systems, professionals in banking and securities. In my career I have had the privilege of working with people with disabilities. I have been amazed by how many can "more than compensate" for their disabilities, primarily because of their self-confidence in their skills and experience, as well as their positive attitude towards their work. Professionally speaking some have been among the best people I have worked with.


I think that  you should consider, first, that overall, the current job market is a disaster for everyone who is unemployed not just for people with disabilities. I offer, however, a few tips that might be of help. The best way to find a job is through ones own personal network, especially people
with whom you have worked with in the past. They are very likely to know of any openings that you might fit in their current company, and would serve as an excellent "in-house" reference that any hiring manager would welcome.


Considering that most people you speak with will not know of any openings, be prepared to ask if they know anyone else who might know of a job opening. Build your network by getting the name of another person to call.

Try to maintain contact on a 60 - 90 day basis. Do some research on companies who might have one or more jobs that you might fit - competitors, clients or suppliers to your former employers. As you identify prospective employers try to find the person to whom you would report if hired and mail your resume directly to them. If you don't hear from them in a week, call them. I do not think mailing or e-mailing your resume to human resources will get you anywhere as they are already deluged with solicited and unsolicited resumes every week. Nor do I think posting ones resume on the job boards - one among tens of thousands - will yield much success. But if you have nothing else to do, post it with no expectations.

Above all, don't give up, as slim as the chances might be. If you give up there will be no chance. When you get an interview focus on one thing
- that you can get the job done. That is all that counts. If you can convince
a prospective employer that you can get the job done, you will be hired.

John Russell, WW Member

 

 

 

 

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