Disability and Work
You've heard of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? The ADA prohibits most employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. The ADA forbids discrimination in job applications, hiring, firing, and other areas of employment.
Workers with health conditions or disabilities often have many questions about how the ADA works. Questions such as:
- What adjustments can my employer and I make so that I can do my job?
- What help can I get to obtain a job?
- How can I return to work if I receive Social Security Disability Benefits?
Making Adjustments to Do Your Job
A recent study by the MetLife insurance company shows that workers age 55 and over are two to five times more likely than younger workers to have disabilities related to:
- diabetes
- eye disorders
- cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease
- cancer
If you are disabled or have a chronic health condition, the decision to continue working is very individual. Your decision depends on many factors, including the match between your specific health condition and the job you have now or could switch to.
Using a job accommodation may keep you working. An accommodation is an adjustment to your work setting or to how you do your work. Typically, it is the responsibility of the employee to mention the need for a reasonable accommodation.
Examples are flexible schedules, rearrangement of your work area, and devices to help you do your job. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission also suggests telework as a reasonable work accommodation. An employee works some or all of the time from home.
With a new health condition or a longer-term disability, talk with your doctor and your employer. Ask them to work with you to arrange the accommodations you need to keep working. Any of you can call the Job Accommodations Network (JAN) for personalized help.
Obtaining a Job When You Have a Disability
Use your local Career One-Stop Center first. These former job service offices help people who have health conditions and disabilities find jobs. All One-Stop resources are available to you -- from resume writing to job referrals to training.
A Career One-Stop Center may also refer you to agencies that specialize in helping workers with your kind of health condition or disability.
For example, the public Vocational Rehabilitation agency in each state provides counseling, training, and job placement to people with disabilities. These agencies receive money from the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). In recent years, RSA has encouraged the state agencies to help people with disabilities start their own small businesses.
The U.S. Department of Labor devotes an entire Web site to resources for disabled workers and those who want to work. It even includes job links to employers who want to recruit and hire qualified workers with disabilities.
Ideas and advice on topics like transportation can also help you keep working.
The Federal Digital Credit Union (DCU) offers loans for purchasing adaptive equipment, cars, or vans. DCU also has a list that narrows down the huge amount of online disability information into usable categories.
The American Association of People with Disabilities publishes the Disability Rights Newsletter. Subscribe free to get ideas on how the Americans with Disabilities Act can help you get and keep work.
Find one of the 500 Independent Living Centers in the U.S. Staffed and run by persons who are themselves disabled, they assist anyone with a disabling condition. Many staff and clients have overcome barriers to employment and can give you tips and inspiration.
Returning to Work When You Receive Social Security Disability Benefits
Over the past several years, the Social Security Administration has focused on making work more appealing and practicable for those who receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and want to return to work.
Through the voluntary Ticket to Work program, you get rehabilitation and career services to help you go to work. You can continue to receive Medicare or Medicaid health care coverage. So you don't have to choose between health coverage and working.
Since the end of 2003, staff in all Social Security offices can assist disability insurance recipients who want to start or keep working. They can help you understand Social Security's employment support programs and choose the program that is best for you.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers rehabilitation and independent living services to eligible service-connected veterans.
Many private disability insurance programs follow Social Security disability rules. Check the back-to-work benefits of your disability insurance.
AARP Resources
AARP Foundation
Litigation
AARP Foundation Litigation brings court suits on behalf of older
persons and prepares amicus briefs in the areas of age
discrimination and employee benefits.
Additional Resources
Job Accommodation
Network
Free consulting service to help people with disabilities or
health conditions get or stay employed.
U.S.
Department of Labor's Disability Resources
A comprehensive site from the Department of Labor.
DisabilityInfo.gov
for Job Seekers
Find your local Career One-Stop Center, job search tips, employer
lists of job openings, self-employment ideas, and Social Security
and Veteran's disability information.
State
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
Find your state agency. Inquire about training and job placement
to help you find work suitable to your disabling condition.
Federal Digital Credit
Union
Get a loan to purchase equipment or a van to help you keep
working. Use disability resource lists to make your information
search easier.
American Association of Persons
with Disabilities
Join the other 56 million Americans with disabilities for news
and practical tips getting and keeping your job.
Independent
Living Centers
Find the Center in your community. Get help with employment,
housing, transportation, and other services from people with
disabilities - who've been there.
Employment Support
for People With Disabilities
If you receive Social Security disability benefits, start here to
learn how the Ticket to Work program can help you get back to
work.
Department of
Veterans Affairs
If you have a service-connected disability, apply here for
services to help you get a job.
