National Disability Employment Awareness Month: 3 Tips for Hiring People with Disabilities
Hiring is no easy task these days. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are twice as many job openings as there are job seekers. That’s creating a labor crunch that can be felt in all industries and business sizes.
Don’t let that statistic leave you without hope “” it turns out that hiring managers who’ve figured out how to expand their applicant pool are one step ahead of those who haven’t. One way to do that is to hire people with disabilities, who have been historically left out of employment opportunities for far too long. In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month this October, we’ve put together a few tips for getting started!
#1: Start with an Inclusive Job Description
Believe it or not, hiring people with disabilities starts before you’ve even posted the opening. An inclusive job description is clear about expectations, which benefits all potential applicants, and can be useful in attracting qualified applicants with disabilities. If needed, include ways in which the duties of the position might be altered to accommodate disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act clarifies what those accommodations might look like, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission breaks it down for you so it’s easy to understand!
#2: Where You Post Matters
You want to find the best candidates for the job, so it’s important that you have a process to attract job seekers “” including those with disabilities. So, it makes sense that you’d need to know where to look for them.
Posting to the same job boards you’ve always used isn’t going to diversify your candidate pool. Community partners such as Goodwill can help you find candidates with disabilities who might be the right fit for your position. The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion, or EARN, also provides a list of resources you can use to recruit diverse job applicants.
#3: Find Great Partners
You don’t have to be an expert in hiring people with disabilities to start making a difference. The key is to have a plan and lean on community partners who work every day to provide employment opportunities to people with disabilities.
Ohio Valley Goodwill is one of those partners. We’re committed to connecting people with disabilities to life-changing careers right here in the Greater Cincinnati area. We provide vocational assessments and direction, job training, and support services throughout the employment journey. We help people with disabilities discover their individual interests and skill sets, and then we help them apply them to employment.
Hiring People with Disabilities is a Win-Win!
When hiring managers and small business owners hire people with disabilities, they create a culture of diversity. With a plan in place to foster inclusivity, businesses can nurture an environment that produces creative solutions and generates goodwill among customers.
Hiring people with disabilities takes commitment from the recruiting process to hiring and retaining talent, but the outcome is a better experience for all.
Learn how to connect with Goodwill’s employment services and job candidates and get started today!
