Job Developing for People with Disabilities during Times of Increased Unemployment Topic 3: Addressing Increased Unemployment

Submitted on behalf of Shyla P.

I work at an independent living service in Montana. I would hope that the DOL, RSA, ACL, HHS and all federal agencies could coordinate together to assist federal, state, and local communities as they plan for successful pandemic employment for people with disabilities. First and foremost, DOL must ensure that people with disabilities have access to and funding for accessible workspaces.... more »

Greetings,

I have worked with disabled individuals in obtaining employment as an Employment Specialist Director for over 5 years and had positions with Workforce Development and Career Development over 10 years and there is a common thread for disabled individuals that keep them or establish barriers for them to obtain substantial employment. Prior to the COVID 19 virus, it would take over 4 months for individuals to... more »

This is so tough. Many of the usual rules apply. Look at the job market and see what field is doling the most amount of hiring. Remind the job seeker that while this is not their first choice there is value in applying for the job. Remind the job seeker to complete their applications fast. There are many people looking for jobs right now. Put your best foot forward-look over your application packet with a fine tooth comb.... more »

When applicants respond to a potential job openings it is important to put one's best foot forward and keep your resume and application specifically directed to the job one is applying for. Carefully read the job description or ad you are responding to. Note the specific words the employer uses. The use of "preferred" or "required" gives important clues to what they need and prefer. Many companies use technology to "screen"... more »

Employer engagement is critical to ensuring that people with disabilities are not left behind during the recovery or disproportionately disadvantaged during layoffs and furloughs. Currently, the monthly percent change in the employment rate of people with disabilities is larger and more negative than for people without disabilities. Employers may need additional assistance to support workers with disabilities and to avoid... more »

• Utilize a Cohort model to provide services to jobseekers with disabilities. Not only has the COVID-19 precipitated massive waves of unemployment for millions of Americans, it has also resulted in a great degree of social isolation. Especially when it comes to providing services to jobseekers with disabilities virtually, there may be considerable valuable in grouping people with disabilities together into cohorts or... more »

These past few months I have learned how to leverage the power of LinkedIn and have been sharing my knowledge with job seekers. I've been helping them with optimizing their profiles and coaching them on networking techniques. I also use LinkedIn to conduct employer research and career exploration activities. Personally, I too have developed new relationships with recruiters and hiring managers using the same techniques.... more »

Hello,

I find these discussions on job developing interesting. My background is in executive sales and marketing. I have worked with businesses for over 30 years, finding out employer needs and then finding solutions for those needs.

9 years ago, I changed gears and went to work for Living Opportunities, a non profit which serves individuals with developmental disabilities. A major part of my job was to find employment... more »

Job developers are not required to take diversity training. This fails both the developer and the consumer. Job Developers, j

Use this time to focus on upskilling of job seekers. Encourage professional development classes, ask job seekers to become familiar with more job search engines/sites, obtain a credential or a certificate, or go to school to position themselves for employment as more opportunities or different lines of opportunities become available.

I am an Employment Specialist at Social Vocational Services (supporting Oakland CA, Concord CA, & Antioch CA), a doctorate student at the University of San Francisco, studying Disabilities studies, with a focus on inclusive culture in both the academic and professional settings, and a researcher at heart. I love my job, but I can be in love with this job if there could be added support for the employer training. Here's... more »

During this time of COVID-19, many families are re-thinking traditional employment options for their adult children with special needs.

Unicorn Children's Foundation is hosting a virtual conference December 3-5 to promote special needs focused entrepreneurship and social enterprises, and we would like to spread the word to families and individuals within the special needs community. The Creative Workforce Solutions Summit... more »

I have joined bi-weekly virtual Chamber meetings to network with local employers. It is helpful to make connections with decision-makers who are not familiar with Vocational Rehabilitation. I also use Labor Market Information to identify industries that are hiring.

During the pandemic, I have been working with my local chamber of commerce for job development. I have attended many virtual events through Zoom which allows me to speak to a large group of businesses at once. Through this networking, I have been able to connect with more businesses and organizations. While it does not always open the door to employment, it gets our foot in the crack! Would love to hear what other organizations... more »

When I did job development during the 2008 recession, I found I needed to do a lot of in person job development in order to develop relationships with employers to advocate for my clients to get hired. Now with COVID-19 safety concerns, I wonder what others in the field are doing to develop new relationships with businesses.