Building a Disability-Inclusive Talent Pipeline Search Ideas

Employers (Federal Contractors can recruit qualified individuals with disabilities both online and through brick and mortar. If an employer is looking to hire for entry level positions, I would suggest contacting Disability Student Services Departments at colleges and universities where the job requisition is. Next employers can contact the local Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Employers with a national footprint... more »

The Department of Veterans Affairs has the Chapter 31 program that aids disabled veterans obtain employment These veterans have often gone through college training programs as at the end of there rehabilitation plan they enter an "Employment Ready" status as determined by their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. The case is then transferred to an "Employment Specialist" whose job is to assist these job ready veterans... more »

Would you be willing to use a firm to recruit temp, temp-to-hire, or direct placement individuals for you? Would you be willing to pay for it? What levels of the organization would this work for? Any specific industries or skills needed?

lack of cooperation at the high school level between employers and schools

1. Mentorship

2. Internship

3. Sponsored (by employer or by other/state/private donations) certification prerequisite to job placement

4. Same methods used to attract and recruit individuals without disabilities--benefits, clear explanation of benefits, addressing common concerns of applicants with and without disabilities

5. Peer services and supports

6. Flexibility

Hiring managers need to be shown where to find the pools of qualified job candidates with disabilities through the Workforce Recruitment Program, Vocational Rehabilitation programs in their state, or the VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment program, to name a few. This was very effective in my office, and I would love to hear about more resources to review resumes and recruit candidates.

To the point, "What creative strategies do you think companies can use to source qualified candidates with disabilities? ", one possibility is to simply target skills on an extremely narrow basis to agencies that work with those with disabilities, rather than as a broad job description, as is generally done everywhere. I found that those with disabilities very often shine well above and beyond others, because they have... more »

Self-Identification is a challenge, understandably, because of pride. It is also a challenge because, as I understand it, it must be able to conform to a set of standards in order to make the person with disabilities eligible to apply under the conditions stated in Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)

(The source I'm looking at right now is: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/section503.htm)... more »

So many individuals that are seeking employment are thrown off course from many jobs due to the fact that they require a multitude of skills. These "Entry level" job descriptions will scare off many people that may not have the entire skill set requested. I often encourage them to apply if the skills that they are lacking are not the major task of the job. What we find is that the smaller the employer the more you... more »

Shift is a on-line job matching and resource sharing website that has just been released in the Kansas City area. it was developed through a partnership with the Greater Kansas City Business Leadership Network and the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council. For more information go to SHiFT.gkcbln.org or contact Charles "Chaz" Nickolaus at 800.500.7878 or e-mail at cnickolaus@moddcouncil.org

Most employers do a good job in formulating their strategy to attract individuals with disabilities. Also most leave out an important factor in my opinion. That is the psychological aspect of having a disability.

From my experience, it is very difficult for a person with a disability to self identify. They feel it is demonstrating a weakness. Secondly, even if a person self identifies, asking for an accommodation is... more »

I'm writing on behalf of a friend with multiple disabilities; his thoughts and opinions follow here.

My friend has often noted that employers do not explain themselves as to "why" they are interested in a person with disabilities, in the case of those who self-identify. There is concern that the employer may be doing this to check off a box to show inclusivity, and that the possible employee in question is not really... more »

Helping women in STEM with disabilities and their small businesses attract and maintain federal contracts. These women are highly educated and knowledgeable with many years of work experience. They could make a good, solid contribution to the USA. They may have fallen upon hard times during their lives and are also involved in care giving for their relatives and friends so they need a boost.

Business partners need to know where to go to learn more about the incentives and supports available to them as they work through the recruitment, hiring, promotion and termination process with individuals with disabilities. Once business feels confident that they know where to find trusted resources and support they will be more willing to take the perceived risks of hiring an individual with a disability. Some states... more »

Case study is focused on Ghana as a pilot program. The West African democratically-oriented government is striving to be inclusive in its policies to engage communities, employers and persons with disability professionals and disabled persons to formulate a winning formula to address holistic issues affecting persons with disabilities.

 

Policy driven ideas are welcomed.