Celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, AbilityLinks.org, the award-winning job-opportunity network, is launching a brand-new website to further their impact. The launch represents a major change for the web-based program, created in 2001 to promote the hiring of people with disabilities.
AbilityLinks, a program of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Northwestern Medicine, has helped over 700 job-seekers with disabilities find employment, four of which were within Marianjoy itself.
Although city and state governments are trying to stop placard abuse, there is enough blame to go around for people with disabilities because of taking advantage of the disabled parking system. Bill Bogdan, disability liaison for the state of Illinois (and a supporter of AbilityLinks) talks about The difference in states' use of placards, the loss of revenue to city and states because of abuse of disabled parking and finding solutions to this complex problem.
If you apply online with any of these companies let AbilityLinks know. Tell AbilityLinks the company name, job title and number. AbilityLinks will share this information with a recruiter from the company. If you haven't yet, please post your resume on AbilityLinks too.
Thanks to the thousands of job seekers, businesses and service providers that have visited AbilityLinks.org, posted resumes and jobs, contacted us for help with job search and attended online and in person events, AbilityLinks celebrated its 15th Anniversary last month! Special congratulations to the more than 700 job seekers that let us know they successfully found employment.
Last month AbilityLinks celebrated its' 15th anniversary with a breakfast that featured four successful AbilityLinks job candidates: Eric McGee from Enesco, Ann Williams and Karolina Pieniazek from the Social Security Administration and Andrew Besbekos from Equip for Equality.
Also attending were AbilityLinks committee members, volunteers, supporters and staff that have shared their expertise and resources to help AbilityLinks grow.
Ann Williams
Ann Williams posted her resume and applied for jobs on AbilityLinks.org. A Social Security Administration (SSA) human resources recruiter found Ann’s resume and contacted, interviewed and hired her. Ann also consulted with AbilityLinks information and referral counselors for advice on her job search.
A young adult with a learning disability looks forward to the chance to take on responsibility, make decisions and build interpersonal communication just like any traditional prospective hire. As always, one of the decisions a candidate or new employee must make is disclosure of disability to an employer. Others can provide help and support when it comes to making the decision. Parents especially, because of how well they know their child and understand the disability, can help more than anyone else
ITKAN is a professional organization affiliated with the Illinois Technology Foundation , whose mission is to develop passionate IT professionals with disabilities, is partnering with Microsoft ’s Technology & Civic Engagement team in Chicago, as well as Directions – a nationwide leader in IT, business and enterprise training solutions and one of only 12 Microsoft Gold Managed Learning partners – to train and secure professional positions for a class of (6) ITKAN members.
Learn about the recruitment process at Booz Allen, with an overview of how the firm supports the community of professionals with disabilities in particular. Candidates with a strong background and experience in the field of STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) are strongly advised to attend.
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