Strategies for Preparing a Well-Rounded and Self-Assured Job Seeker

1. Strategies for Preparing a Well-Rounded and Self-Assured Job Seeker The Life Cycle of the Employment Process for Your Students with Disabilities Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Conference, July 2012

2. Today’s Presenters Laura Cutway, Georgetown University Law Center Veronica Porter, Northeastern University Sara Mahoney, US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy

3. Objectives Setting the stage for employment of people with disabilities Best Practices from Georgetown University Law Center and Northeastern University Disclosure and Accommodations Workforce Recruitment Program and Schedule A Hiring Authority

4. Setting the Stage- Employment of People with Disabilities Current Disability Employment Statistics May 2012 Labor Force Participation People with disabilities: 20.7%People without disabilities: 69.4% Unemployment Rate People with disabilities: 12.9%People without disabilities: 7.7%

5. Employment of People with Disabilities:The Reality

6. Georgetown University Law Center Collaboration with the Career Center IMPACT Career Fair Preparing Students for WRP Interviews

7. Northeastern University

8. Wrap Around Experiential Education Model for Success – NuConnect* * A Strategic Partnership between the Co-op Program, Disability and Career Services

9. NuConnect Model

10. Employer Advisory Committee

11. NuConnect Initiatives

12. SUCCESSES

13. When to disclose? • Resume? • Employer calls for an interview? • Interview? • Pre-offer? • Post-offer? • After work has started? • After a problem? • Never? *Aase and Smith, 1989 and Witt, M. A., 1992

14. Disability Disclosure and Accommodation Request - Video WRP Video Series: http://www.dol.gov/odep/wrp/Videos.htm

15. Think about it… Explore feelings about disability Identify necessary accommodations Determine who is the correct person to tell and how to contact that person

16. Disclosing • How specific? • Use language that is informative but non-threatening • Describe personal skills that show essential functions of the position will be met • Any functional limitations? • What accommodations are necessary? • Use a script, if necessary *Information Used with Permission by COSD

17. A Student Perspective - Ian Ian from Northeastern…

18. Interesting Facts • Employers cannot ask disability-related questions before an offer of employment is made. • A medical examination may be required as long as it is required for all entering employees. • When the need for accommodation is not obvious, an employee may require documentation. • A request for accommodations can be in plain English (i.e. it does not have to include the words like ADA or accommodation).

19. What is a reasonable accommodation? A modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things usually are done that enables a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy an equal employment opportunity. If students are not interested in requesting accommodations, ensure they can perform the essential tasks

20. Categories of Accommodations Required for Employment Ensure equal opportunity in the application process Enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential functions of a job Enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.

21. Examples • Making existing facilities accessible • Job restructuring • Part-time of modified work schedules • Acquiring or modifying equipment • Changing tests, training materials, or policies • Providing qualified readers or interpreters • Reassignment to a vacant position • Interview coach

22. Transition • How do typical college/graduate school accommodations translate into the employment setting? • Time and a half • Reduced distraction testing environment • Note-taker • Audio recordings

23. The Workforce Recruitment Program What is The WRP? Who is eligible? How do you get involved? Additional resources for schools and students

24. Schedule A Hiring Authority Exempted hiring authority for people with disabilities Schedule A Letters Consists of 2 Parts Qualified Disability Job Readiness Statement Who Qualifies?

25. Schedule A Tools and Resources Schedule A Hiring Guide for Youth Created by Federal Partners in Transition Explains the process and protocol for using Schedule A in youth-friendly language and tone Outlines reasons why a youth might consider Federal employment

26. Schedule A Tools and Resources ABC’s of Schedule A USA Jobs Template Schedule A Letter Template Cover Letter Office of Personnel Management Directory of Disability Program Managers/ Selective Placement Program Coordinators

27. Resources Office of Disability Employment Policy – www.dol.gov/odep Executive Order Text – www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-increasing-federal-employment-individuals-with-disabilities Job Accommodation Network (JAN) – http://askjan.org/ Reasonable Accommodations for Attorneys with Disabilities – http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/accommodations-attorneys.html Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) - http://www.cosdonline.org/ Schedule A Hiring Guide for Youth - www.dol.gov/odep/pdf/20120103ScheduleA.pdf ABC’s of Schedule A – http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/abcs_of_schedule_a.cfm

28. Resources OPM’s DPM and SPPC Database - http://apps.opm.gov/sppc_directory/searchlist.cfm USA Jobs Schedule A Templates – http://www.usajobs.gov/IndividualsWithDisabilities Workforce Recruitment Program- www.wrp.gov www.dol.gov/odep/wrp/Videos.htm Entry Point – http://ehrweb.aaas.org/entrypoint/ Partnership for Public Service Youth Site -www.makingthedifference.org National Collaborative for Workforce and Disability/Youth- www.ncwd-youth.info

29. Questions and Contacts Laura Cutway lmc228@law.georgetown.edu Veronica Porter v.porter@neu.edu Sara Mahoney Mahoney.sara@dol.gov