AbilityLinks Employer Resources

Accessibility Checklist

How Do I Know If My Worksite Is Accessible?

The following questions will help you determine the accessibility of your work site. Sources of additional and more detailed information are provided at the end.

Are there designated parking spaces for persons with disabilities that are close to the entrance of the worksite? Is there a pathway without abrupt level changes or steps that leads from the parking area to the entrance? If ramps are used to provide access, are they appropriately graded and are handrails provided? Are the doors wide enough (36 inches) for people using wheelchairs? Are they easy to...

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Assistive technology (AT) in the inclusive workplace

One of the most important components of being an inclusive employer is the concept of "reasonable accommodations." While the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) provides a more detailed explanation you can review, for purposes here, we'll stick with a simple definition:

Modifications or adjustments that enable a covered and qualified employee with a disability to perform the duties of their work, and enjoy the same benefits as similar employees without disabilities.

What can constitute a reasonable accommodation can be very broad. It could be altering the floorplan of the office or allowing an employee with a...

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Disability Employment Statistics

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report from August, 2014, 31.8% of non disabled persons do not participate in the labor force vs. an 80.2% non participation rate for persons with disabilities. The unemployment rate for disabled job seekers is also more than twice as high. The BLS reports a September 2014 unemployment rate of 12.3% for disabled job seekers vs. 5.5% for non-disabled job seekers. Two studies offer some insight into why so many persons with disabilities are not working and what businesses are doing to employ and accommodate workers with disabilities:

Why Adults With Disabilities Have...

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Disability Etiquette

Many of us grew up during a time when people with disabilities were relegated to special classrooms, and, as children, we were told not to stare at or ask questions of people in wheelchairs, people using sign language, or people who were mentally retarded. Since then, laws have been passed to ensure the rights of people with disabilities, and society overall has become more accommodating and accepting of those who are "different." Americans with disabilities are now in the mainstream — living independently, working, playing, going to school, voting, shopping, and otherwise participating in the same activities as everyone else.

As...

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Employer FAQs

1. I don’t want to get sued for firing someone with a disability. If I hire a person with a disability and they perform poorly, aren’t I “stuck” with them?

No. Your company’s policies and quality standards apply to employees with disabilities just as they apply to other employees. Once you have made the reasonable accommodations necessary to enable an employee to perform the essential functions of the job, the employee has to meet the job requirements.

2. I’m concerned about saying the wrong thing. What questions may I ask a job applicant with a disability?

Just as with any other...

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Interviewer Bias

A Primer on Bias in Interviewing

Jobseekers with Disabilities

by Mark Williams

March 2014

Introduction

Employers’ hiring decisions may be affected by cultural or individual biases against individuals with disabilities. These biases may be implicit, in that they are...

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Interviewing a person who has a disability

If you're a manager, recruiter, human resources (HR) specialist, or key company decision maker — chances are you'll be conducting interviews at some point! Prospective employees may come from all over the world and will have different values, beliefs, and backgrounds. Modern companies know how important it is to have a diverse, inclusive workforce: it's not only the right thing to do, but it holds some unique (and measurable!) business benefits, too.

Part of this diversity should be inclusive to persons with disabilities, of course! But we should acknowledge a reality, one that shouldn't cause shame but rather draw attention to an...

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Myths and Facts

Employers and the ADA: Myths and Facts

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark federal law that protects the rights of people with disabilities by eliminating barriers to their participation in many aspects of living and working in America. In particular, the ADA prohibits covered employers from discriminating against people with disabilities in the full range of employment-related activities, from recruitment to advancement, to pay and benefits.

The foundation for the ADA is America’s promise of equal access to opportunity for all citizens.

Being inclusive of people with disabilities—in...

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Past Webinars and Presentations

Webinar: August 25, 2014 Moving the Mindset: Disability and Bias in Interviewing & Hiring Presentation

Links

Article

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Tax Incentives

There are three tax incentives available to employers that hire people with disabilities or make their places of business accessible for employees and customers with disabilities.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups, including disabled persons, who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. Refer to Form 8826, Disabled Access Credit, for information about eligible expenditures.

Disabled Access Credit According to the IRS, the...

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