6 Valuable Disability Recruiting and Hiring Resources

By Jessica Miller-Merrell

Companies have continued to struggle to recruit those with disabilities and are lost when it comes to whom they can reach out to when they are considering hiring someone with a disability. These workers are a talent pool that in my experience are some of the most productive. Putting them to work benefits you as well as them. Providing them a work opportunity at your company can be life changing. Resources exist for employers on hiring those with disabilities beyond the tax breaks. It’s more than just good business. It’s about providing hope, resources and opportunities for all members of your community. .

I’ve come up with the top six disability recruiting and hiring resources that will help jumpstart a business owners quest for knowledge on the topic. With these six resources you’ll be able to obtain information on how to recruit, hire, and retain a workforce of disabled workers.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Employers are able to find out information on how to recruit, hire, and retain employees with disabilities. Job seekers with disabilities are also able to find information to develop their skills and find support they need to get a job. The ODEP puts out guides for employers that help boost their overall recruiting efforts when it comes to disabled candidates.

Visit their website to learn more about the resources available to companies who are struggling to find qualified candidates with disabilities.

Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN)
The employer assistance referral network is a program designed and sponsored by ODEP that helps employers find qualified applicants with disabilities. You’re able to contact this agencies by visiting their website.

Internal Revenue Service
Looking for resources on how hiring candidates with disabilities will help your business financially? The Internal Revenue Service has set guidelines that give companies tax breaks and credits for maintaining a certain level of employees who are disabled. For a complete list of breaks visit their website.

Disability Employment 101
This is a resource made available from the U.S. Department of Education that gives employers a comprehensive analysis of hiring employees with disabilities that includes information about how to find qualified workers with disabilities as well as research behind how to integrate individuals with disabilities in the workforce.

Visit their website to download the copious amounts of information they have that helps employers.

State Governors’ Committees on Employment of People with Disabilities
Each state generally has a state governor’s committee who helps employers with specific resources that help them recruit and retain qualified individuals with disabilities. Visit the contact information on the Department of Labor’s website and find out how to contact your state-specific office.

Disability Employment Initiative
Our last piece of information on disability recruiting and hiring resources is the disability employment initiative which aims to improve education, training, and employement opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed, and those who are receiving social security disability benefits. This is a joint effort between several different governmental entities. Visit their website and download their fact sheet as well as other official resources.

Make sure to also check out our other posts on TalentCircles that focuses on knowing the rules when it comes to hiring disabled workers and the rules and regulations you must follow to prevent being sued, etc.

Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR is a workplace and technology strategist specializing in social media. She’s is the Chief Blogger & Founder of Blogging4Jobs. You can follow her on Twitter @jmillermerrell.