Question 1

Job Help for People with Disabilities

Accepted Answer

If you have a disability and you're looking for work, these resources can help.

Develop Your Work and Job-Seeking Skills

Get in-person counseling, training, support, and services to help you find and keep a job. Contact:
- Your state vocational rehabilitation agency.
- The American Job Center in your area
The Workers with Disabilities section at CareerOneStop.org has resources to help you:
- Develop job skills
- Conduct a job search
- Prepare for interviews
Find job tips and resources from the Campaign for Disability Employment's What Can You Do? website.
Your local Center for Independent Living can help you live on your own. They also offer job training and coaching.

Find a Job

Ticket to Work trains Social Security disability recipients age 18 - 64 who want to work. It's free and voluntary.
AbilityOne.gov helps people who are blind or have significant disabilities find jobs. Job openings are with nonprofit agencies nationwide.
The federal government has many jobs open to people with disabilities.

Job Help for Young Workers

Check out Job Corps. It's a free residential education and job training program for young adults. It accommodates participants age 18-24 with disabilities.

Job Help for Veterans

Take advantage of the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program for veterans. It offers help with:
- Job training
- Employment accommodations
- Resume development
- Job-seeking skills
Find more job help programs for veterans. These include:
- Help starting your own business
- Qualifying for a hiring preference with the federal government

Learn About Your Rights

JAN, the Job Accommodation Network helps you:
- Get answers to your questions about workplace accommodations
- Learn about your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Visit the Office of Disability Employment Policy website. It explains the laws that protect workers with disabilities from job discrimination.
Learn about your rights from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Topics include:
- Accommodation for your disability
- Protection against harassment and discrimination

Question 2

Federal Jobs for People with Disabilities

Accepted Answer

If you’re looking for a job and have a disability, you might consider working for the federal government.

Advantages of Government Jobs for People with Disabilities

The federal government:

Uses Schedule A, a non-competitive hiring process. It's faster and easier than the competitive process.
Provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees

You can also apply for jobs through the competitive hiring process.

Finding and Applying for Federal Jobs

You can search and apply online for most jobs at USAJOBS.gov.

Check out USAJOBS’ tips for individuals with disabilities. It covers Schedule A and other factors in applying for a job.

Apply for a Job Through an Agency

Contact the agency’s Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC) for help.

College Students and Recent Graduates with Disabilities

Find summer jobs, internships, and permanent positions through the Workforce Recruitment Program.

Veterans with Disabilities

Special hiring authorities let agencies appoint vets with service-connected disabilities to jobs.

Question 3

Discrimination and Harassment at Your Job

Accepted Answer

If you are experiencing discrimination or harassment at your employer, first inform your manager or the human resources department. If neither help, use these government resources.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

Protections Included Under the Law

These laws protect employees and job applicants against:

Discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment in the workplace by anyone because of:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex (including gender identity, transgender status, and sexual orientation)
- Pregnancy
- National origin
- Age (40 or older)
- Disability
- Genetic information
Being denied reasonable workplace accommodations for a disability or religious beliefs
Retaliation because they:
- Complained about job discrimination
- Helped with an investigation or lawsuit

How to File an Employment Discrimination Complaint

To file a complaint, contact your EEOC field office.

Many state and local governments have anti-discrimination laws. These laws may offer extra protection beyond federal law.

Some state laws:

Apply to businesses with only five or six employees
Prohibit discrimination based on whether you're married or have children
Have different deadlines for filing a charge
Have different standards for deciding whether you're covered

Many state laws have more protections for nursing mothers than federal law requires. State labor offices enforce these laws.

Filing a Lawsuit

If you're a victim of job discrimination or harassment, you can file a lawsuit. If the discrimination violates federal law, you must first file a charge with the EEOC. (This does not apply to cases of unequal pay between men and women.)

You may decide to sue if the EEOC cannot help you. In either case, look for an attorney who specializes in employment law. You can check with:

Your EEOC field office

American Bar Association

National Employment Lawyers Association

Not All Employers Are Subject to EEOC Laws

Only employers with a certain number of employees are subject to EEOC laws. The number of employees changes depending on the type of employer and the kind of discrimination alleged.

Businesses, state, and local governments must follow most EEOC laws if they have 15 or more employees.
Federal agencies must follow all EEOC laws, no matter how many employees they have.

Laws that the EEOC Enforces

Federal employment discrimination laws include:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – which prohibits discrimination against workers with disabilities and mandates reasonable accommodations
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) – which prohibits discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)
The Equal Pay Act (EPA) – which requires equal pay for equal work by men and women

What is Harassment?

Harassment is unwelcome conduct because of your:

Race
Color
Religion
Sex
National origin
Age
Pregnancy
Disability
Genetic information

The federal government only enforces harassment due to one of these reasons. If you experience workplace harassment for another reason, contact your state's labor department or seek help from a legal professional.

Harassment can include:

Offensive jokes

Physical assaults or threats

Ridicule or insults

Display of offensive objects or pictures

Sexual harassment may include:

Unwelcome sexual advances
Requests for sexual favors
Other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature
Offensive remarks about a person's sex

Harassment becomes illegal when:

It creates a hostile or abusive work environment.
The victim gets fired or demoted for refusing to put up with it.

Protection from Retaliation

EEOC laws protect employees and job applicants from retaliation. For example, it’s unlawful to punish people for:

Filing or being a witness in an EEO charge or investigation

Talking to a supervisor or manager about discrimination or harassment

Refusing to follow orders that would result in discrimination

Resisting sexual advances or intervening to protect others

Question 4

Education Programs for People with Disabilities

Accepted Answer

Learn how to find government education programs and financial aid for people with disabilities.

Your state department of education or your local school board can tell you about:
- Nearby programs
- The state's education rights for people with disabilities
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a plan developed by a child’s teachers and parents to meet that child’s needs. It’s an essential part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA guarantees a free, appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities.
College-bound students with intellectual disabilities may be eligible for financial aid programs. The Office for Federal Student Aid has information on loans, grants, and scholarships.
Contact the school you want to attend for more information on what help they offer.

Jobs and Education for People with Disabilities

On This Page