Successful Recruiting in the Disability Community

Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Important Things to Know 

Talent has no boundaries.



Workforce diversity includes workers with disabilities.

Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Disability Community Facts  56 million people with disabilities plus close family, friends and supporters comprise almost 1/3 or the U.S. population  20 million out of the 70 million U.S. families have at least one member with a disability, or one out of 10 families raising children have at least one child with a disability Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Disability Community Facts, cont.  People with disabilities in the U.S. have an annual spending power of $796 billion—more than any other ethnic minority group.

 People with disabilities are the last untapped labor source in the country.

Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Disability Community Facts, cont.  Targeting the disability community as a customer and labor source is the hot, new, and rising trend in the American business community.

 In Indiana, companies like Lowe’s, Walgreens, CVS, Fort Wayne Metals, PDF, Inc., Best Buy, and several hospital systems are taking advantage of this corporate advantage. Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Benefits to Business  Reduced Recruiting Costs  Reduced Training Costs  Reduced Turnover  Tax Credits   Other Incentives Increased Diversity    New Customer Niche Group Increased Brand Loyalty Improved Community Relations Risk Reduction/ADA Compliance Support Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Typical Business Concerns  Additional supervision  Higher insurance/workers’ compensation costs  Loss of productivity  What if it doesn’t work out?

  Am I stuck forever paying a sub-standard employee?

How do I effectively communicate with employees who have disabilities?

Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Simple Answers  No increase in supervision, insurance, or workers’ compensation costs  Not required to lower quality or standards for any employee  Typically, a dedicated and loyal group of employees who give 100% every day  The bottom line of disability outreach is to lower costs and increase incentives Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

What Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services Can Do for You  Diversity training  Human resource mentoring  Recruiting/screening/training support  Disability management support  ADA consultation and training Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

What VRS Can Do for You, cont.  Rehabilitation and assistive technology assessments  Job accommodations/modification supports  Marketing collaboration  State and federal work incentives: on the-job training, internships, WOTC Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Section 503 Federal Contractor Responsibilities  Abide by Equal Opportunity clauses  Provide invitation to self-identify  Review personnel practices  Review job requirements  Provide reasonable accommodations  Review employment practices  Provide job postings Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Business & Disability Resources

Making the Business Case:

 www.apse.org/business/  www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com/ Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services