Finding a job can be challenging for everyone. However, people with disabilities often face unique challenges when seeking employment. Harmful misconceptions and lack of accommodations can make the hiring process harder. Even after getting a job, people with disabilities may end up in workplaces that are not welcoming or supportive.
Occupational therapist and disability advocate Jacklyn Boheler knows these challenges well. She has spent much of her career working to dismantle unfair barriers that make it harder for people with disabilities to find meaningful work opportunities.
In 2020, Jacklyn co-founded the nonprofit B3 (Being, Belonging, Becoming). The organization creates a welcoming space where people with and without disabilities connect through social events and life skills programs. B3 even offers a paid internship program through their coffee kiosk at the Chapel Hill Public Library, serving as a transitional employment model for interns with disabilities and disability allyship education for those without disabilities
In addition to her work with B3, Jacklyn works as a project coordinator for a statewide, federally funded initiative called Work Together NC. In this role, she helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) find resources to thrive in adulthood, including at work. This involves the creation of online resources designed to make support services easier to navigate.
During our interview, Jacklyn shared a thoughtful perspective on inclusive employment, as well as advice and resources for both disabled job seekers and employers. We are so grateful for the insight she shared and are excited to pass it along to you. Read the full interview below! Be sure to check out the “Jacklyn’s Resources” section at the end for helpful links to resources mentioned in the interview.
What does inclusive employment mean to you?
"You’ll often hear the term competitive integrated employment as the ideal for folks with I/DD. This means that individuals are making at least minimum wage and they are at a place of business that would be considered a traditional employer. … I think it’s a lot more nuanced than that.
Obviously we want to be paying people at least minimum wage and striving for settings where people with and without disabilities work alongside each other, but some people do really thrive in more of a nonprofit type setting that focuses on hiring people with disabilities, depending on what their support needs are.
I’d say an overall inclusive workplace is building a work culture that values everyone’s strengths, and that embraces differences and leverages them to support innovation and accessibility. This ultimately benefits everyone in the workplace— which is a concept called universal design. It’s not just people with disabilities who benefit from a more easy-to-navigate environment!"
As founder of B3, you have helped many people of diverse neurotypes in building vocational-readiness skills. How can employers make the workplace more inclusive to disabled and neurodivergent workers?
"Often creating an inclusive workplace is more simple than what an employer initially might think. It can be something as basic as making sure shelves and workstations are labeled or that there are checklists available for the different work streams.
Then, there’s things like having job descriptions without unnecessary qualifications. For example, sometimes there will be a requirement for a driver’s license when there’s no driving actually involved in the job. Sometimes there’s unnecessary certifications or post-secondary education required for a role.
I really like to push customized employment. … Rather than making a job description fit individuals, look at the full range of tasks available in the work environment and choose which ones work for the individual's strengths."
What are your favorite resources that Work Together NC offers that can be used by job seekers across the United States?
"My favorite resource is probably the employment toolkit. It goes through a variety of work readiness activities from exploring your work interests and strengths, to preparing for an interview, to creating a resume and a cover letter. It really walks you through all those milestones. We even have a first day on the job checklist to make sure things are off to a smooth start.
I also recommend the employment action plan. That is designed to assist individuals and whoever is supporting them in navigating employment services. For example, figuring out how to get connected to EIPD (the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities). This is kind of like the first stop for getting services like job coaching. The action plan is customizable so that the individual can select which items are aligned with their goals. …"
Do you have any advice for job seekers who are feeling discouraged in their job search?
"I would say definitely surrounding yourself with a strong social network is going to be very helpful. … Especially in this job market, [finding a job] is not easy and requires a lot of patience and tenacity. But also, you never know what opportunities are going to arise from a social network.
I think networking can be so important, especially when we are thinking about people with I/DD. … Having those personal relationships can really set them apart. Also from a practical standpoint, having people that are really in your corner and can serve as references for you.
Also, knowing and affirming the value of neurodiversity in the workplace. Research shows that neurodiversity really does support innovation. When we have a variety of perspectives, that typically leads to improvements in the way that things are done or new ideas. We also know that there is a lot of research related to [neurodiversity improving] workplace morale. I think that might be in part due to people with disabilities not taking a job for granted because of all the barriers they face in finding a job. People with disabilities are often reported to be reliable and enthusiastic about work tasks."
Do you have any advice for job seekers who are trying to identify what roles align with their interest and skills?
"I would say try volunteering! I think that can be a really good way to get some hands-on experience to build your resume, but also to figure out what types of work environments you like. … That’s also a way of building your network. Sometimes volunteer opportunities will eventually lead to a job.
The job seeker may also need to educate the employer about customized employment and about creating a role tailored to the individual, rather than fitting into the limiting box of a job description. Customized employment can be a great option, especially for those with higher support needs."
Jacklyn’s Resources
While focused on supporting individuals with I/DD in North Carolina, Work Together NC has resources that can be used by everyone, no matter where you live. Explore them by clicking the hyperlinks below.
- Work Together NC has a toolkit for every stage in your journey to employment. Explore Work Together NC’s employment toolkit here!
- View Work Together NC’s customizable employment action plan here!
- Work Together NC’s free training, Inclusive Hiring and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities , is a great resource for both employers and job seekers. While it’s designed for North Carolina employers, anyone who wants to learn about inclusive employment can benefit from it. You can explore the course here!
Want to learn more about B3? Check out their website here!