Tag Archives: jobs

Jobs Ideas for People with Disabilities

Finding a job when you have a disability can be a little bit of a challenge if you don’t know where to start. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employers from rejecting qualified applicants because of a disability – but that doesn’t mean all companies have buildings designed to accommodate. If you have limited mobility and plan to work at an office, make sure the building is wheelchair-accessible before applying.

While all jobs may not be the best jobs for people with disabilities, there are definitely some options. Some jobs allow you to work from home while others require minimal movement throughout the day. If you have a disability that limits your mobility, but are in need of employment, try one of the following jobs for people in wheelchairs.

Work-from-Home
The most obvious job option for people in wheelchairs is one that allows you to work from home. This can include anything from medical transcription, data entry, technical support, freelance writing or graphic design, web development or even inbound sales.

Government Work
Since the government sets the standards that prohibit discrimination, it has some of the best jobs for people with disabilities. Many federal agencies even have recruiters specifically dedicated to helping people with disabilities find an appropriate position.

Mystery Shopper or Product Tester
Some stores and restaurants will hire secret shoppers to visit their establishment and rate the experience. These may be places you visit anyway, and if not, it might be a good opportunity to let the business know if they are lacking in accessibility. Other companies hire product testers to try out their new products, which can be done from the comfort of your home. Once you sign up, the company will send you products and pay you to provide reviews (bonus: free stuff!).

Call Center Employee
Many companies use call centers for customer service or sales. Call center workers can sometimes work from home, but even if they can’t, this job requires limited mobility throughout the day. If you have good communication skills and are comfortable with a computer, this is a great option, as companies seem to always be looking for call center employees.

Legal Secretaries, Legal Assistants or Paralegals
While these positions usually require certain training or schooling, if you have the qualifications, working in the legal field is a viable job option for people in wheelchairs. People in these positions generally work in an office and perform tasks that do not involve any physical labor. Plus, should you need to appear in court, most courthouses have the appropriate accommodations for wheelchair access.

Presidential Proclamation – NDEAM 2013

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2013
By the President Of The United States Of America
A Proclamation

Our Nation has always drawn its strength from the differences of our people, from a vast range of thought, experience, and ability.  Every day, Americans with disabilities enrich our communities and businesses.  They are leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, each with unique talents to contribute and points of view to express.  During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we nurture our culture of diversity and renew our commitment to building an American workforce that offers inclusion and opportunity for all.

Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we have made great progress in removing barriers for hardworking Americans.  Yet today, only 20 percent of Americans with disabilities, including veterans who became disabled while serving our country, participate in our labor force.  We need their talent, dedication, and creativity, which is why my Administration proudly supports increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities.  To that end, I remain dedicated to implementing Executive Order 13548, which called on Federal agencies to increase recruitment, hiring, and retention of people with disabilities.  As a result of our efforts, the Federal Government is hiring people with disabilities at a higher rate than at any point in over three decades.  Most recently, we updated the rules to make sure Federal contractors and subcontractors are doing more to recruit, hire, and promote qualified individuals with disabilities, including disabled veterans.  And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, States are taking advantage of new options to support and expand home and community-based services.

In the years to come, I will remain committed to ensuring the Federal Government leads by example.  This year, as we mark the 40th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act, I will continue to marshal the full resources of my Administration toward effective and comprehensive implementation.

If we swing wide the doors of opportunity for our family, friends, and neighbors with disabilities, all of us will enjoy the benefits of their professional contributions.  This month, let us uphold the ideals of equal access, equal opportunity, and a level playing field for all Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2013 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  I urge all Americans to embrace the talents and skills that individuals with disabilities bring to our workplaces and communities and to promote the right to equal employment opportunity for all people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

BARACK OBAMA