strategies for preparing a well-rounded and self-assured job seeker
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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. Today’s Presenters. Laura Cutway, Georgetown University Law Center - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Strategies for Preparing a Well-Rounded and Self-Assured Job SeekerThe Life Cycle of the Employment
Process for Your Students with Disabilities
Association on Higher Education and Disability
(AHEAD) Conference, July 2012
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
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
Setting the Stage- Employment of People with Disabilities
•Current Disability Employment StatisticsMay 2012
•Labor Force ParticipationPeople with disabilities: 20.7%People without disabilities: 69.4%
•Unemployment RatePeople with disabilities: 12.9%People without disabilities: 7.7%
Work experience makes a difference
Self-Advocacy skills impacts success
Employment of People with Disabilities:The Reality
Georgetown University Law Center
•Collaboration with the Career Center
•IMPACT Career Fair
•Preparing Students for WRP Interviews
History of the Disability Resource Center at NU.
What happens after students graduate?
Northeastern University
Wrap Around Experiential Education Model for Success – NuConnect*
Strategic Partnership
DRC, CS, Co-op
Working Group
External Partners
Employer Advisory
Committee
Resources
* A Strategic Partnership between the Co-op Program, Disability and Career Services
Strategic Partnership
DRC, CS, Co-op
Working Group
External Partners
Employer Advisory
Committee
Resources NuConnect Model
Advocacy Collaboration
Knowledge and
ResourcesFeedback
Purpose: Target employers in various
industries to create mutually beneficial partnerships
Goals: Develop strategies to help students
be better prepared for interviewing, working
Share best practicesIncrease employment opportunities
Employer Advisory Committee
LinkedIn group
to share
resources
Employer-in
residence at the
DRC for info
interviews
Targeted
promotion for
specific positio
ns
Employer
panel at NE
AHEAD
Internship/Coop
programs for long-term
relationship
building
NuConnect Initiatives
SUCCESSESIncreased awareness,
knowledge and expertise
Participation in the wrap-
around model
Sharing of information
and resources
Increased success of students in
obtaining employment
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
Disability Disclosure and Accommodation Request - VideoWRP Video Series: http://www.dol.gov/odep/wrp/Videos.htm
Think about it…•Explore feelings about disability
•Identify necessary accommodations
•Determine who is the correct person to tell and how to contact that person
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
A Student Perspective - IanIan from Northeastern…
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).
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
Categories of Accommodations Required for Employment
1. Ensure equal opportunity in the application process
2. Enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential functions of a job
3. Enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.
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
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
The Workforce Recruitment Program •What is The WRP?
•Who is eligible?
•How do you get involved?
•Additional resources for schools and students
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?
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
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
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
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.govwww.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
Questions and Contacts•Laura Cutway
•Veronica Porter▫[email protected]
•Sara Mahoney ▫[email protected]