Bridging the Gap
The most important way for a person to bridge the gap into the workforce is to be prepared. This will involve identifying the skills you have that can be brought into the workplace and the type of environment that have the least impact on your disability.
Carry out an informational interview. While this is progress, ask the interviewer how they think your disabilities might affect their work. Discuss way that you could deal with these challenges successfully on the job. Read a variety of job posting to see with jobs you could use your skills and abilities in, and with job requirements could be difficult to meet your needs. Use these requirements to find a new way to deal with these challenges.
Volunteer as a way to network with workers and employers. Ask them to honestly tell your challenges might be a barrier to hiring you. These experiences can help you to find an accepting employee.
Support workers who know and help people with similar disabilities can help you to develop your experience, best present yourself and best accommodate your challenges. They can give good ways for you to overcome your challenges. Mentors can help you meet people who have had similar challenges. Mentors can be good examples of what you can achieve.
Job shadowing can help you learn from people who have experience in your chosen field Work this process can help you deal with the daily challenges these ideas can then be presented to future employers.
Support programs can teach you new ways to accommodate your challenges before applying for jobs. This will show employers that you are willing to maximize your abilities and minimize your disabilities.
When the time has come to start applying for jobs, make sure that your skills are highlighted and that you are open and honest with your challenges.
Employers can be confident they made the right choice if the following things are done:
- make sure your disability is disclosed. This means making sure that the job experiences in the past have highlighted the challenges that have needed accommodation. If unique solutions have been found this should be given as well.
- Write something about the challenges that you have faced in other jobs, if questions about accommodation comes up present the interviewer with this.
- Give some examples of references of your accommodations. These can give you an advantage over other applicants.
- Apply for part time employment, this will show the employers a true test of your skills and so that a solution may be found for accommodation. Job interviews for person with disabilities can raise issues as well.
Some of the questions that should be anticipated include:
- Your disability
- Its impact on work abilities and requirements
- Accommodations for your disability - what will be required and how much it will cost.
- Disclosure - how and what to say about your disability.
You should be prepared with well thought out questions.
Here are some possible interview questions:
- What accommodations will you need to help you in this position?
- How will you perform the functions of this position?
- What transportations arrangements do you have? Are they reliable?
- Can you explain any gaps in your employment history?
The following are some interview strategies
- Positive reposition or framing- focus on what you can do
- Accommodation requirements - be prepared to discuss any accommodations that will be needed
- Give examples - this will convince an interviewer that you have performed similar work functions in the past.
- Focus on skills and abilities.
The following factors should be considered if the decision is made to disclose your disability:
- Is it a visible disability
- How do people react when they find out your disability? How do you react?
- Are there any safety reasons that would affect your decision to disclose.
- How will your employer react to your disclosure.
- What misconceptions might an employer have about your disability?
- If you disclose how you will show that your disability will not affect your work.
- Do you need accommodation for your interview?
- What do you now about this employer's policies and procedures for employees with disabilities.
The following are some tips on disclosing your disabilities
- Focus on your skills and qualifications
- Be prepared to discuss any issues the employer may have.
- Be prepared to show funding sources that are available to assist with the accommodation.
- Anticipate employers' reactions and questions to your disclosure and be prepared to answer them.
When searching for work the plan that you develop will often be the key to the results you receive and what is not received. If you see yourself as a failure you will be less likely to try again. However if you focus on the plan as a failure you will be moreikely to try again.
Many persons with disabilities are making a successful transition into the work place through a variety of factors:
- their work is a good match to their abilities and vocational interests
- their disability is an asset in performing some aspects of their work responsibilities
- they have successful role models
- they have had the opportunity for low risk work practice prior to employment
- they have received training in identifying and addressing the stereotypes of others
- there has been follow up support provided
Success Stories
from Human Resources and Social Development Canada
 |
||
| "Without the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, I would have never have gotten the opportunity to become the owner of an established business." | "~" | Robert Slobodzian |
| "Most people look at work as a daily grind - until it is taken away from them. I'm not ready to spend the rest of my life in front of the T.V. all day long and no matter how many websites and message boards you visit; it doesn't provide the same challenge as working. The social interaction work provides is invaluable to me." | "~" | Tim Hick |
| "I feel confident, my self-esteem has risen-and I'm not discouraged anymore. I'm early in my dream career and can't wait for the next opportunity I receive". | "~" | Frederick Lambert |
