How to Find Qualified Employees with Disabilities
Communicating and Interviewing Someone with a Disability

How to Find Qualified Employees with Disabilities

There are many resources available online to find qualified employees with disabilities:

Employer Assistance Resource Network
The Employer Assistance Referral Network, Department of Labor, connects employers with job vacancies to employment service providers who have direct access to job ready individuals with disabilities. It also provides technical assistance to employers in locating appropriate organizations and information as they seek to hire qualified candidates with disabilities.

Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities
The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities, provided by the Department of Labor, is a resource for businesses nationwide to identify qualified employees for temporary and permanent positions. Applicants are highly motivated postsecondary students and recent graduates eager to prove their abilities in the workforce.

Employer Resources for Hiring People with Disabilities
This document provides valuable resources and links for employers seeking to hire people with disabilities.

ForEmployers.com
ForEmployers.com is a website that helps employers find qualified workers with disabilities. Also on their site is information about accommodations and assistive technology along with laws that govern employment for individuals with disabilities.

U. S. Business Leadership Network
The U. S. Business Leadership Network is an organization that provides networking and support for best practices in employment. On their site you will find conference information and other resources. Local chapters can be formed and currently exist as listed on this site.

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Communicating with and Interviewing someone with a disability

Preparing to Interview Someone with a Disability
Questions to Ask During an Interview
How to Interact with Someone with a Disability

When interviewing, it is unlawful to question a person about the existence, nature or severity of a disability. Questions should always be directed at the person's ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. The following resources provide information about legal concerns employers may have, as well as the social aspects of communicating with people with disabilities.

Preparing to Interview Someone with a Disability

If the disability of your applicant is known or if an accommodation has been requested for the interview, there are some things that employers can do to make the interview a positive experience for both the employer and the applicant.

Interviewing Scheduling Etiquette
This handbook, provided by the City of San Antonio, provides a simple interviewing schedule checklist to help you prepare for an interview with an individual who has a disability.

Service Animals
The City of San Antonio provides this online handbook published by the City of San Antonio. Find valuable information about interviewing applicants who use the aid of service animals.

Questions to Ask During an Interview

If you are an employer there are certain things that you can and cannot ask an applicant or employee who has a disability. Employers CANNOT ask:

• "Do you have a disability?"
• "What kind of disability do you have?"
• "Is your disability serious?"
• "How will your disability affect this job?"
• All other questions relating to a person's disability

Employers CAN ask:

• "This job requires you to input information into a computer using Excel. Can you tell me about your experience in this area?"

If the applicant has a known disability, (for example, brought a seeing-eye dog to the interview), the employer may ask, "This job requires you to input information into a computer using Excel. Can you describe how you would accomplish this?"

The following sites provide additional information on what can and cannot be asked during an interview with an individual with a disability:

Employer Tips on Interviewing Applicants with Disabilities
The National Center on Workforce and Disability has prepared an extensive list of tips for employers when interviewing applicants with disabilities.

Employers' Disability Etiquette Handbook
This handbook provides employers with etiquette basics for interacting with employees and future employees with disabilities.

Interviewing People with Disabilities
Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals. This page provides valuable tips for employers interviewing persons with disabilities.

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How to Interact with Someone with a Disability

When working with or preparing to interview someone with a disability, it is important to be aware of the proper etiquette to use when interacting with people with disabilities. To learn about disability etiquette and how to properly interact with people with disabilities, visit any of the following:

Interacting with People with Disabilities
This article provides helpful guidelines on interacting with people with a disability.

Disability Etiquette Handbook
The City of San Antonio provides an accessible online handbook that deals specifically with employment and etiquette when interacting with people with disabilities. Other topics also include Reception Etiquette and Conversation Etiquette.

Watch Your Language
The National Center of Workforce and Disability provides valuable information in an easy-to-read format on the use of proper terms and language to use when working with persons with disabilities.

Department of Labor
The DOL provides information on employment and other labor related topics on its website.

CareerOneStop.com
CareerOneStop.com is a federal-state partnership. On this site you can find job and labor market information for your state.

Disability Sensitivity Training
This free online course is appropriate for all audiences including: managers, supervisors, and other professionals. This course reviews the ADA, the Air Carrier Access Act, disability etiquette, appropriate terminology, communication skills, how to relate to people with disabilities and more.

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