Employer Resources

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Best Practices/Model Employers

See also our NHU page on Businesses that Hire People with Disabilities

AMC Theatres has a range of Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, including their FOCUS Program, a company-wide hiring and training process that has lead to the successful hiring of employees with a range of disabilities. For more information, contact a theater General Manager.

Best Practices: Self Identification by Disability:IN. Now more than ever, how people identify, as well as when and why they disclose a disability, determines workplace culture. Research shows it is not an overstatement to say that having more people who openly disclose their disability creates an inclusive culture that has the power to dramatically shape future business culture and success. But here�s the reality: While 92% of businesses encourage employees with a disability to self-identify and 95% have a confidential reporting process in place, on average, only 3.7% of DEI participants� employees disclosed their disability to their employer at any point. So how do you capture at least some of the 19% who qualify as having a disability according to the U.S. Census?

CSC, a global technology company strives for the full inclusion and advancement of employees with disabilities in all areas of employment, including professional, administrative, technical, and clerical, among others. A highlight of the CSC program is "ABILITIES First!" - a global employee resource group that was created to provide tailored mentoring to CSC's employees with disabilities. CSC also hosts disability awareness lunch-and-learns. A recent report noted that 11% of CSC's new hires were people with disabilities. Learn more about CSC's diversity initiatives.

Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage from accenture.com - Companies that embrace best practices for employing and supporting more persons with disabilities in their workforce have outperformed their peers, according to their new research, in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities. The 45 companies that were identified as standing out for their leadership in areas specific to disability employment and inclusion had, on average over the four-year period, 28 percent higher revenue, double the net income and 30 percent higher economic profit margins than their peers. Their analysis also revealed that U.S. GDP could get a boost of up to US$25 billion if more persons with disabilities joined the labor force.

Manpower, in an effort to help companies fill mission-critical roles with qualified employees with disabilities, offers Access2Ability. Via this project, Manpower has partnered with state Vocational Rehabilitation Offices to identify leading talent that can fill a wide range of professional and entry level roles. They also provide disability awareness and accommodation training.

Walgreens, via their Inclusive Workplace initiative has become the benchmark for company-wide inclusive hiring practices. From speaking engagements to roundtable discussions, Walgreens is willing to help other companies take the first step to broadening their workforce to include employees with disabilities.

Learn the "Why" and "How" of Hiring Employees with Disabilities

ADA National Network is comprised of 10 regional centers that provide information, training and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Network is not an enforcement or regulatory agency, but a helpful resource supporting the ADA's mission to "make it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality."

Building an Inclusive Workforce: A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Employees with Disabilities, published by the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy provides dozens of resources related to creating an inclusive culture as well as recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing employees with disabilities.

Cornell University ILR School offers career-long learning for professionals on building diversity within the workplace. The school offers workshops and custom workplace programs on a range of diversity topics, from strategies to training.

US Department of Labor: Office of Disability Employment Policy: Employers has developed a comprehensive online directory of employer resources, which can help you sucessfully recruit and hire employeess with disabilities. You will also find details on incentives and tax rebates related to hiring workers with disabilities.

Disability and Employment Community provides a myriad of resources and information for employers that wish to hire people with disabilities. Resources include video roundtables, podcasts, articles and more, which tackle such topics as myths about hiring people with disabilities, best employment practices, benefits of hiring people with disabilities, and much more.

Disability Program Navigator: Technical Assistance Project has created a series of 30 second trainings for employers that provide information on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and how to go about doing that. Each training provides links to helpful resources.

Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN) supports employers in recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing qualified individuals with disabilities. Employers can receive no cost consultation, technical assistance, customized training, access to comprehensive online resources, and referral to state and local community-based organizations serving job seekers with disabilities. To learn how your company can tap into the vast pool of talented workers with disabilities, call 1-855-AskEARN (275-3276).

New Sign EARN's Primer on Disability Inclusion If you’re an employer who is new to the world of disability diversity and inclusion, you may be looking for general guidance and background on the what, why and how of making your organization more welcoming and accessible to applicants and employees with disabilities. Consider this your starting point for understanding how hiring workers with disabilities can benefit your business, and the ways EARN can help.

Global Disability Inclusion helps employers assess and build strategies to recruit and successfully employ workers with disabilities. The process starts with benchmarking against employers who have implemented successful inclusion programs, and continues with assessment of the employers current inclusion landscape. Based upon this process Global Disability Inclusion will then develop and assist with implementation of a customized inclusion program.

HirePotential "is a national consulting and employment firm that works with corporations committed to diversity by assisting them with integrating, accommodating and employing the Untapped Workforce�including people with disabilities, mature workers, veterans and individuals from other [untapped] niche groups." Services include a job posting service, employee placement, accessibility consulting and diversity training. For more information, call (888) 590-8808.

IRS: Tax Benefits for Businesses that Have Employees with Disabilities provides an overview of the tax credits available to small businesses who hire people with disabilities. Some of the credits include the Work Opportunity Credit, which provides a credit up to 40 percent of the first $6,000 of the first annual salary of a qualified employee, the Disabled Access Credit, which provides a credit for the expenditures related to accommodations for employees with disabilities, and more.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is not a job placement service, but an international toll-free consulting service that provides information about job accommodation and the employability of people with disabilities. Additionally, they offer information on the Americans with Disabilities Act. JAN is a service of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. For more information, check out their website or call (800) 526-7234.

National Organization on Disability via their Bridges Advisory Services, helps companies develop local customized disability hiring initiatives. Expert assistance is provided for the most challenging aspects of disability hiring � from assessing internal processes; to helping identify, attract and retain talent with disabilities; to real-time problem solving.

Office for Disability Employment Policy provides resources on labor market information and demographic trends, flexible work arrangements such as telework, and the economic and other benefits to employers when they recruit, hire, and retain people with disabilities. Explore topics such as Recruitment and Retention, Accommodations and Tax Incentives For Employers.

  • ODEP: Add Us In InitiativeFebruary 6, 2020 is designed to identify and develop strategies to increase employment opportunities within the small business community for individuals with disabilities. If your small business would like to establish local collaborations that will effectively connect you with qualified workers with disabilities, contact ODEP to learn more about this initative.

Society for Human Resource Management has developed a Disability Employment Resource Page, which offers the latest news concerning programs and practices for hiring people with disabilities as well as resources that can guide hiring managers in recruiting, hiring and managing employees with disabilities.

Springboard Consulting was founded by Nadine Vogel, a highly acclaimed author, executive and advocate for her two duaghters with disabilities. Springboard is a global company working with national and multinational corporations, governments and agencies around the world to successfully mainstream disability in the global workforce, workplace and marketplace. Hiring managers and HR executives can receive consultation and training on organizational readiness, ADA compliance, hiring and retention practices, and much more.

Think Beyond the Label provides businesses with up-to-date information, tools and the state and local resources they need to hire people with disabilities and integrate them into their workforce.

US Chamber of Commerce has promoted the hiring of people with disabilities for several years. They have issued a report Leading Practices on Disability Inclusion, which highlights successful inclusion practices of more than one dozen leading companies, including AT&T, Ernst & Young, Manpower, PepsiCo, Walgreens and more.

US Small Business Administration: Hiring People with Disabilities highlights the various programs that encourage the recruitment and hiring of people with disabilities. This article also provides technical information concerning the laws surrounding the employment and accommodation of people with disabilities.

What Can You Do: Campaign for Disability Employment provides a range of resources to employers concerning the hiring of people with disabilities. Topics include, Incentives & Return on Investment, Recruiting, Interviewing & Hiring, Achieving Workplace Success, and Retaining Valued Employees. Employers are also encouraged to share their ideas and solutions.

Virginia Commonwealth University's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center is a project of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention. The center can assist employers in developing workplace supports for employees with disabilities, develop mentoring programs for college students with disabilities and more. This website also features links to a number of helpful resources. For more information, call (804) 828-1851.

Find Qualified Candidates

CareerOneStop is the nation's publicly-funded resource for jobseekers and businesses. Find jobs - from entry level to technical to professional to CEO. Locate public workforce services in your area. Explore alternative career paths, compare salary data for different occupations, learn which careers are hot, get resume writing tips and job interview strategies, and much more!

DisABLEDperson.com is a non-profit organization committed to providing an online, targeted recruiting site that effectively connects proactive employers with job seekers with disabilities. They offer their service free of charge to all federal, state, local, public and private agencies that deal with employment of disabled Americans. This is now TOTALLY FREE to both individuals and corporations. You can now do Resume Posting, Job Posting and Resume Search all FREE! This web site is nationally based reaching all 50 of the United States and its territories. It can hold 2 million job posts and 5 million resumes at any given time making it virtually limitless. The site also includes helpful information for employers, job seekers and agencies.

Hire Disability Solutions is a jobsite dedicated to increasing the employment of people with disabilities. Registered individuals may post their resume and search for "disability-minded" employers who are actively seeking disabled job candidates. Registration is free.

Manpower, via Access2Ability, offers employers access to a proven, award-winning workforce development strategy through which companies can be linked to an untapped, pre-screened and trained talent pool of people with disabilities. Visit the Manpower website to find a local office.

Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a Federally sponsored recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated postsecondary students and recent graduates with disabilities. This program prescreens applicants via a comprehensive interview process on an annual basis, ensuring only the most qualified students are referred. Private sector employers can access the WRP database, via AskEarn.org: Workforce Recruitment Program. Public sector employers can request a password via the WRP website.

Hire/Mentor Youth with a Disability

Disability Mentoring Day, held the third Wednesday in October, promotes career development through hands-on programs, job shadowing, and ongoing mentoring of youth with disabilities. If your company would like to participate in Disability Mentoring Day activities, contact the American Association of Persons with Disabilities to connect with your local coordinator, via phone, 800-840-8844 (V/TTY) or via email, dmd@aapd.com.

Hiring Incentives

ADA Small Business Tax Credit provides small businesses with fewer than 30 employers, and less than $1,000,000 in revenue, up to 50 percent of the cost of accommodating an employee with a disability, via a tax credit of up to $5000 (up to 50% of $10,000).

State-specific Hiring Incentives: Many states, via their Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Program provide a variety of incentives for the hiring, training and retention of employees with disabilities. Following are a few examples:
  • Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: On the Job Training Hiring Initiative provides 50 percent of the salary and fringe expenses of a DVR referral that is hired by your company for the first 90 days. WI DVR also offers 12-week Temporary Work Experiences, during which salary is paid for by DVR in an effort to introduce employers to the capabilities of candidates with a disability.

Join an Employer Network

February 6, 2020 - Alliance Initiative offered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) works to advance the employment of people with disabilities. The Alliance Initiative is open to businesses and organizations that are committed to working with the Labor Department in developing model policies, programs and strategies that increase recruiting, hiring, advancing, and retaining workers with disabilities. For more information on how to get involved, call 1-866-ODEP-DOL (633-7365).

CEO Council of the National Organization on Disability offers business leaders support and resources for building a diversified workforce that includes people with disabilities. CEO Council members and their companies receive resources for building a universally inclusive workplace, guidance on expanding successful recruitment of people with disabilities, and workplace safety advice for employees with disabilities.

US Business Leadership Network: Disability IN promotes best practices in hiring, retaining, and marketing to people with disabilities. There are currently 55 Business Leadership Network affiliates in 32 states. Businesses can join BLN affiliates to both learn and share how to expand diversity recruiting efforts to include people with disabilities. Employers who participate in BLN activities can expect to:

  • Gain access to a pool of qualified candidates with disabilities
  • Obtain pertinent disability information
  • Share information with other employers
  • Contribute to human resource training and employment issues
  • Gain access to an untapped market for goods and services. Gain access to a pool of qualified candidates with disabilities

    To learn more, check out the Network's website or e-mail info@disabilityIN.org.

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