The Basics

Health care and cash benefits can be important factors that help you lead an independent life. However, the biggest key to being independent is getting a job. When you’re employed, the money you earn, combined with disability income you may be eligible for, will help you better provide for yourself and your family. A career not only provides you with more choices about how you want to live your life, but also how you want your life to be in the future!

Unemployment rates are higher for people with disabilities. There are, however, laws in place that protect disability benefits so that you can find a job and work without worrying whether you’ll lose your benefits, or if you’ll have to reapply for benefits if you have to stop working. There are also laws and protections focused on your possible personal assistance needs and on reasonable accommodations after you go work. Knowing the reasonable accommodations and job supports available can help you to get a job and to keep it, even as your needs change while being employed.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most important civil rights law for people with disabilities who are looking for work or have found a job. The ADA makes it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. It requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.

This article lets you learn more about the ADA, as well as what employers who interview and hire persons with disabilities can't and must do, including providing job supports and reasonable accommodations that allow you the same job benefits that are available to employees without disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations are changes to the hiring process, job duties, and work environment, so qualified jobseekers or employees with disabilities get equal access to the job and its benefits. This article will help you figure out what accommodations might help you, and how to let your employer know about your disability when asking for the accommodations you need.

Other types of job supports are available from other agencies, services providers, and organizations. Assistive Technology and Personal Assistance Services (PAS) offer additional ways to help people with disabilities work successfully. The article explains how to locate and apply for such services.