Dedicated disability support workers help people with disabilities learn the skills they need to live independently and achieve their life goals. In addition to helping them with daily activities and tasks, they also provide emotional support and counseling. They can help with everything from moving into a new home to applying for benefits and getting financial assistance. They can even provide crisis intervention and emergency housing for people who are in need of it.
A growing number of employers recognize the value of incorporating people with disabilities into their workforces, but they often lack the knowledge and capacity to do so. In this case, it’s important for disability service providers to step in and serve as business allies. They can identify job seekers with disabilities who can meet the employment needs of businesses, and then connect those job seekers to the appropriate jobs. In addition, they can also provide ongoing support to ensure that people with disabilities are successful on the job.
The first thing that disability service providers need to do is to understand the differences in business environments and cultures across the country. For example, some businesses are hesitant to hire people with disabilities due to a perception that these individuals will need significant and costly accommodations in the workplace. In this case, it’s important to “meet the employer where they are,” which means building a relationship that focuses on addressing an individual company’s needs and concerns rather than pushing for an immediate hiring decision.
Other employers, on the other hand, actively seek out talent with disabilities to improve their workforces and reflect the diversity of their customers. This can include retail operations, pharmacies and health care clinics, among many others. One example is CVS Health, which uses a national team of disability experts (called The NET) to provide employment and support services for people with disabilities in all regions of the United States. The NET team works with CVS HR managers to train individuals for specific jobs, including retail employees, distribution clerks and pharmacy technicians, as well as to provide the ongoing supports that people with disabilities need on the job.
It’s also important for disability service providers to recognize that different businesses may have varying levels of experience and exposure to people with disabilities. This can impact their attitude towards hiring people with disabilities and
can be overcome by asking open-ended questions to better understand an employer’s mindset, frame of reference and culture. Finally, it’s important for disability service providers and business leaders to work together to advocate for policies that will increase disability inclusion in the workplace. Ultimately, this is what will lead to sustainable success for both parties. To do so, they must engage in a continuous dialogue with each other. In this way, both sides can build on successes and address challenges as they arise. By working together, businesses and disability service providers can make a positive difference for everyone involved.
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