What is a disability-friendly organization?
While there are no perfect organizations out there, employers, especially post-COVID, are trying to do a better job in including disabilities within broader conversations about diversity and inclusion. Below are a few places where you can find out more information about organizations that could be friendly to people with disabilities.
- Disability:IN’s Global Equality Index (PDF) is the most comprehensive benchmarking tool for disability inclusion in business.
- For federal organizations, the Office of Personnel Management Selective Placement Program Coordinator Directory provides a list of project managers within government who are responsible for bringing diverse candidates into their agencies, including persons with disabilities. You can search the directory by agency and by state. It is a great way to reach out to people to better understand the culture of an agency.
- If you are interested in the private sector, check out Disability:IN’s NextGen Leaders program.
- American Job Center Locator
- Mentra is a mission to bridge the autism unemployment gap through accessible, human-centered design. The Mentra platform tackles systemic inequality and erases the stigma through a neurodivergent-friendly application process that puts individuals looking for employment of inclusive recruiters, rather than having them navigate through mainstream job application portals. They started off in August 2020 in a pilot with Specialisterne, and are steadily bringing on employers across different states and roles across all skill types and sectors as they grow.
- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
- STEPS Resources & Support for College Students with Disabilities
- The Office of Disability and Employment Policy provides articles and resources on national leadership focused on disability and employment policy.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Titles I and V provides specific information on employment discrimination laws.
- Disability Belongs (Formerly RespectAbility) is a source for news, education, and other resources regarding issues facing people with disabilities.
- The Disabled Workers Program of Illinois helps meet the directive required by P.A. 96-0078, effective July 24, 2009, which requires CMS and other state agencies to develop and implement programs to increase the number of qualified employees with disabilities working for the state.