News and Highlights

Disability is one part of who a person is just like a person's race, gender and ethnicity. While employers can't ask about disability, job seekers who demonstrate acceptance and comfort with having a disability may bring those attitudes to the job interview. They may put the interviewer at ease, answer and set aside unspoken questions, and increase chances for of a successful interview.

Job seekers that use common interview questions to assertively manage the impression disability makes can demonstrate that disability is not a barrier, but can be a workplace asset.

Since passage of the ADA access to public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications has improved. For example, it’s easier to go to restaurants, retail and grocery stores, use phones, technology, and public transit.

At the same time, despite passage of the ADA, workplace disability inclusion has lagged behind. Recent changes to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, are intended to increase workplace disability inclusion. These changes put in place hiring goals and voluntary self-identification of disability to measure disability inclusion.

Congratulations AbilityLinks Information and Referral Counselor Bill O’Connor for being named to the 2018 Fellows Class of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership!

The mission of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership, now three years old, is to build a pipeline and network of leaders with disabilities who are deeply engaged in the civic life of the Chicago region and advancing in their careers — consistent with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“Although people with disabilities are our neighbors, co-workers, classmates, family and friends, they rarely play a visible leadership role at tables of power and influence in Chicago,” says Emily Harris, Executive Director of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership.

In 2007 the US Marines contracted John Kennedy to develop a non-digital neuroplastic training program to improve all warfighting skills in order to reduce casualties in combat. By physically changing the brain in areas critical to focus and accelerating cognition all areas of performance are improved. Not only have military personnel seen improvement through Combat Brain Training but athletes, business people, students and people with disabilities have as well.