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1.8. Become Your Child's Advocate

Advocacy and Awareness tips from the Illinois Assistive Technology Program

Resources for Employers of People with Disabilities

When it comes to doing business, inclusion of workers with disabilities offers a competitive edge. By incorporating people with disabilities into their human capital strategies, employers expand their pool of talent, skills and creative business solutions. Resources below illustrate how workplace practices that include people with disabilities benefit everyone and make good business sense.

 Business Case for Hiring People with Disabilities
askearn.org/businesscase
Workplace Accommodations: Low-Cost, High- Impact
AskJAN.org/media/lowcosthighimpact
Tax Incentives
askJAN.org/media/tax
Business Sense (monthly newsletter)
dol.gov/odep/businesssense
Disability Employment Policies in Practice
www.dol.gov/odep/profiles

Creating an Inclusive Culture
Organizations that value and appreciate each person or individual differences and experiences benefit from diverse perspectives. Creating such an inclusive culture isn't difficult, but does require some forethought. The resources below can foster an inclusive work environment that is flexible and open to the talent of all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities.

What can YOU do? Campaign for Disability Employment
whatcanyoudocampaign.org
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
dol.gov/odep/topics/NDEAM
Add Us In (small business program)
dol.gov/odep/addusin

Recruiting and Hiring
The goal of the recruitment and hiring process is to attract and identify individuals who have the best mix of skills and attributes for the job available. Ensuring that all qualified individuals -- including those with disabilities – can participate in the process is critical to achieving this goal. The resources below can assist in understanding how to be disability inclusive in recruiting and hiring.

Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN)
AskEARN.org or 1-855-275-3276 (Voice/TTY)
Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
AskEARN.org/WRP
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
AskJAN.org or 1-800-526-7234 (voice) or 1-877-781-9403(TTY)
Veterans Hiring Toolkit
americasheroesatwork.gov/forEmployers/HiringToolkit
National Resource Directory
nationalresourcedirectory.gov/employment
One-Stop Career Centers
servicelocator.org or 1-877-USA-JOBS
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
AskJan.org

Retaining and Advancing Valued Employees
Employers and employees both benefit from a work environment that facilitates the retention of all skilled, qualified workers through effective job accommodations for employees with disabilities. These resources can assist in understanding how to effectively retain talents of qualified employees with disabilities and help them advance and achieve workplace success.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
AskJAN.org or 1-800-526-7234(voice) or 877-781-9403 (TTY)
Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN)
AskEARN.org or 1-855-275-3276 (voice/TTY)

Reprinted (by Illinois Assistive Technology Program) with permission from the 11/12 issue of the SCIL Advocate, the Springfield Center for Independent Living newsletter