Under the United States Department of Labor (DOL), the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) promotes jobs for people with disabilities by influencing policies and practices in the nation’s workforce.
By fostering an educational platform, more jobs are filled by competent and hardworking individuals who qualify for employment and want to work. Both private sector and government jobs for disabled individuals are highlighted by the ODEP, which strives to create a path for employable individuals and employers who need to fill job positions.
By administering and supporting work programs for disabled adults and youth, the ODEP helps shed light on industries where workers with disabilities can thrive. Through their employment services, ODEP helps disabled individuals gain confidence and provides support for them as well. Below is a guide to these programs and support efforts of the ODEP. In addition, other vocational training and employment services and programs that cultivate a place for disabled workers in both the government and private sectors workforces are described here.
The DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) supports programs offering vocational training to disabled adults and employment assistance to individuals with disabilities. Some of the work programs offered by the ETA and policies they support are listed below.
Ticket to Work offers vocational training to disabled adults, as well as rehabilitation services and other support needed for disabled individuals to regain, obtain or maintain an employed position as opposed to receiving benefits. This program is a disability employment service for people 18 through 64 years of age who receive Social Security benefits but wish to improve their earning potential in an income-based job.
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Ticket to Work helps applicants explore possible jobs and careers and gain work experience while allowing them to continue to receive benefits. In fact, benefits, including healthcare, usually continue through the transition to employment. Furthermore, if participants are unable to continue in their job, protections remain in place for benefits to return if employment ends.
Disability employment services offered under the Ticket to Work program are as follows:
The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) helps fill jobs for people with disabilities who are college students or recent college graduates. Managed by the ODEP and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO), the WRP is a referral and recruitment program that links private sector and federal employers across the country with highly motivated recent college graduates and college students with disabilities. This program helps fill summer, temporary, permanent and part time jobs for people with disabilities who are eager to put their abilities to use in the workforce.
Federal work programs for disabled young adults and youth provide disability employment support for younger individuals looking to join the workforce. Below are two programs offering disability employment services to younger age groups.
The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists in finding vocational training for disabled youth via work-based learning experiences, summer jobs and employment in general. This work program for disabled youth provides leadership and youth development resources and job opportunities for young people with disabilities who want to work and are capable of employment.
The JobCorps also offers job training for disabled adults 18 to 24 years of age. This work program offers job training and residential accommodations, as well as other benefits such as a living allowance and health benefits.
Government jobs for disabled individuals are readily available due to increasing efforts by the federal government to recruit and employ disabled workers at all levels and occupations. Many government agencies such as the Social Security Administration (SSA) offer disability job openings frequently. Disability employment services aid people with disabilities in securing employment with the federal government. There are several programs in place to stimulate disability employment in all government agencies across the country. Below are some work programs for disabled adults to assist disabled individuals in obtaining government jobs.
The Schedule A Hiring Authority, known as Schedule A, expedites the hiring process for government jobs for disabled individuals seeking employment with the government. Eligible disability job applicants must meet the following qualifications:
By filling government job openings for disabled individuals, positions are filled sooner than they typically would be via the standard timely and competitive hiring process. If an agency does not offer jobs for people with disabilities under Schedule A, disabled applicants may still qualify for an open position. Note that qualifying for Schedule A does not ensure employment. Eligible applicants can apply for disability jobs within the government under the Schedule A Hiring Authority by following the steps below.
If you are in search of job training for disabled veterans for yourself or someone you know, there are several government programs that can provide this service. For instance, job training for disabled veterans is available through the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E). This program is offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and provides employment accommodations, job training, job-seeking assistance, career counseling and other services to eligible disabled veterans. Other disability employment services for veterans include veteran entrepreneur programs and special hiring authorities for veterans disabled in service.
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