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Community and Internet Resources


Employment: Government Agencies and Programs

National

President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities offers a Job Links section. Employers listed on Job Links have indicated interest in recruiting and hiring qualified individuals with disabilities for open positions within their company or organization. Most employers are individual companies, but some may be recruiting, staffing or temporary placement firms that serve a number of companies.

The Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities offers facts on the employment of people with disabilities, the executive order itself that created the task force, and information about the members of the task force. The establishment of the National Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities was to create national policy that allows adults with disabilities to gain employment at a similar rate of those without disabilities.

U. S. Census Bureau has a disability page that includes an introduction to Census Bureau data on disability. Also, the page contains data from the survey of income and program participation, which includes statistics on employment and disability. Work disability data from the March current population survey is available as well.

New Sign National Industries for the Severely Handicapped's mission is to create employment opportunities for people with Severe Disabilities by securing Federal contracts through the Ability One program. It formerly went by Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) as its network of community-based nonprofit agencies. The Ability One Program is the largest single provider of employment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities—currently employing more than 42,000 individuals with severe disabilities, at more than 600 community-based nonprofit agencies across the country. Employment opportunities made possible through the Ability One Program equip people who are blind or have other severe disabilities with the job skills and training necessary to receive good wages and benefits and gain greater independence and quality of life. To get more information, contact NISH National Office, 8401 Old Courthouse Rd. Vienna, VA 22182, call (571) 226-4660 or fax (703)849-8916, or send e-mail to info@nish.org

United States Office of Personnel Management offers many helpful on-line resources for federal employers and potential employees. They offer a number of guides to help Federal employers and human resource personnel understand issues and programs aimed at improving the employment of people with disabilities. This website also provides links to job listings and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

State Listings

California

City of Pasadena Human Services, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department offers Life After High School, a summer employment preparation program for teens and young adults (ages 13-22) with disabilities. The program focuses on such issues as completing an application for employment, dressing for success, interviewing, and employment searches. The program also focuses on developing social and relationship skills. For more information, call (626) 744-7257.

Illinois

Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs provides 40 page small business start-up handbook, database of business requirements and assistance programs. Contact them by e-mail or call toll free statewide (800) 252-2923 or (800) 785-6055 (TDD/TTY) for help from their First Stop Business Information Center in Illinois or to access other state, federal and local sources for service, information, business forms and applications. Also, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs offers the Disability Participation Loan Program which provides financial assistance through a development corporation, which finances small businesses that provide jobs to workers in the region served by the development corporation. Development corporation participation may not exceed 50 percent of the project subject of a maximum of $50,000. For information call (217) 782-3891 or (312) 814-2308.

Michigan

Michigan Department of Career Development (MDCD) offers a great deal of assistance for people with disabilities as well as for employers interested in diversifying their workplaces with employees with disabilities. For the job seeker with a disability, MDCD offers rehabilitative services including job training, supported employment services, employment plan preparation and much more. Their website also features a guide to self-employment. For employers, MDCD offers recruitment strategies, information on workplace accommodations and tax credits, and much more. For more information, call (866) 694-6257.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Pathways to Independence, a program of the Department of Health and Family Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, has been designed to eliminate barriers to employment by providing assurance of existing government benefits for those who wish to seek permanent employment opportunities. For more information either visit the website or call (414) 243-5600 or (414) 243-5601 (TTY).

Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has a website that offers information on programs, office locations and services and personnel. Also, it provides listings of the counties served by each DVR office, directions and maps, e-mail address and links to offices with websites. Information on services for persons with disabilities, services for employers, and training opportunities are available through this site. DVR works together with persons with disabilities to provide an array of employment-related services statewide. To search the Wisconsin Job Service Database, check out: JobNet. Several locations throughout Wisconsin are now equipped with a universally accessible JobNet PC workstation. The workstations can be accessed by those with visual and mobile impairments. For locations, please visit the Department of Workforce Development People with Disabilities Project web page.

For more on the topic of Employment:

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[Updated May 31, 2008]
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