Why Employing People with Disabilities Makes Sense and How to Support Them

www.capabilitiesinc.biz

Why should employers hire people with disabilities? After we hire, how can we support

people with disabilities?



Justin Blumhorst

• Business and Technology Professional

• On Management Team for Capabilities

• Helps People with Disabilities Find Quality Employment in the Community


Who is Eligible for Services

• Apply for services through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)– Application can be submitted by telephone, email, fax, or by visiting

the nearest OOD office (Dayton office is off of Edwin C Moses Exit on Cincinnati Street)

• After the applications is completed, an interview with an OOD representative will be set up to determine eligibility

http://ood.ohio.gov/ood-home/core-services/bureau-of-vocational-rehabilitation/regional-offices

http://ood.ohio.gov/ood-home/core-services/bureau-of-vocational-rehabilitation/regional-offices


Who Knows Someone With a Disability?

• Definition of a Person with a Disability– Someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially

limits that person in some major life activity, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment.


Famous People with DisabilitiesAlbert Einstein

David Beckham

Stevie Wonder

Tom Cruise

Hugo Weaving

Dyslexia

Blindness

Tourettes Syndrome

Epilepsy

Autism


Why Do Employers Hire People with Disabilities?

• Anyone Can Have a Disability!– Biggest Minority Group– 20% of US population has a disability– Diverse Workforce


Why Do Employers Hire People with Disabilities?

• Financial Incentive– WOTC Tax Credit (Up to $2,400 per individual hired)– Welfare to Work Tax Credit (Up to $8,500 per individual hired)– On the job training– Workers with disabilities have been shown to help with the following:

• Reducing hiring and training costs• Increased retention rates


Vocational Rehabilitation? What is that?

• Definition– A federal-state program that helps people who have physical or mental

disabilities get or keep a job. VR is committed to helping people with disabilities find meaningful careers.

• Capabilities is a vendor for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)

• State contracts us to help people with disabilities find employment



• General process to find someone a job– Career Exploration/Vocational Testing

• Help them find a career that will give them satisfaction

– Job Development• Finding a specific job• Takes person out in person• Some people need more assistance



• General process to find someone a job– Job Coaching

• Helping person learn the job• We don’t do the job for them• Coach is there to assist individual find support



• General process to find someone a job– Job Retention

• 90 day process after JC or hire date• Weekly calls to manager and individual• Ensure satisfaction

– Ongoing Job Support• Long term job retention• Only if needed


How Can I Support Individuals

• Treat Like Everybody else– Shake hands (even if they have limited use of hand)– Good Manners

• Speak to the person directly– Job Coach or Interpreter will listen into conversation and help when

needed• Don’t assume someone needs help (ask first)



• If person is hard of hearing or deaf– Speak in normal voice and tone

• May read lips- exaggerated movements harder to decipher

• Talking louder only helps if person doesn’t have hearing aid

– Talk directly to them; don’t block face (may be reading lips)



• If person is hard of hearing or deaf– Get their attention before talking to

them– Use gestures and visual cues– Write it down or use text messaging– Learn some sign language



• If person is in a wheelchair– Sit down when possible to talk with them– Don’t lean on wheelchairs– Don’t assume what they can or can’t do– Don’t worry about expressions like “running along” or “go for a walk”– Don’t move chair without permission



• If person is blind or low vision– Don’t pet service dogs without permission– Identify yourself when entering or leaving room– Ask before giving assistance to navigate

• Proper way to do this is to offer your arm for them

– Don’t be worried about saying things like “see you later”



• People First Language– Emphasizes the individuality, equality and dignity– Rather than defining people by their disability, focuses on the person– Examples:

• Person with a disability• Person who is deaf• Person who is blind



• If Job Developer Brings in Person with a disability– Talk to the person directly– Job developer may be helping them complete the application– Job developer may be sitting in an interview– Treat them just like you would anybody else



• If Job Coach is working with a coworker– Talk to the person directly– Try not to talk to the job coach very much– Make individual feel welcome– Make small talk as you would any other employee– Don’t assume person can’t do things– Give criticism as normal



• If Job Coach is working with a coworker– Don’t treat person like you would a child– If you think they might need help, ask if they do (don’t just do it)– Train the individual like you would normal employee

• Job Coach will jump in when assistance is needed


So, Overall, How Can I Help?

• Treat person just like you would anybody else• Talk directly to them• People are in services to get themselves to a better spot• Invite people into your peer groups


Questions

• Contact me for more information– Phone: 419.778.7400– Email: [email protected]– Skype: jblumo– Facebook: www.facebook.com/jblumho– Twitter: www.twitter.com/jblumho– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinblumhorst

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/jblumho

http://www.twitter.com/jblumho

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinblumhorst

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinblumhorst


For more information, please visit


Why Employing People with Disabilities Makes Sense and How to Support Them

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