LibGuides: Career & Job Resources: Resources for Students with Disabilities

Online Library Resources for Students with Disabilities

These eBooks (electronic versions of printed books that can be read on a computer or handheld device) address the challenges faced by individuals who self-identify as disabled as they explore career opportunities and search for jobs.. When you access these eBooks online, you will be prompted to login using your ECC email and password.

The Road Ahead by K. Storey (Editor); D. Hunter (Editor)
ISBN: 9781614993124
Publication Date: 2013-12-11
Successful transition from school to adult life has always been difficult for people with disabilities, especially in the area of employment. The vast majority of people with disabilities are either unemployed or underemployed with low wages and few benefits, and many governments are struggling to find a way of providing employment and benefits to people with disabilities without creating disincentives to work. This book provides strategies and ideas for improving the lives of people with disabilities, exploring new ways of enabling a successful transition to an integrated adult working life by providing effective instruction and support. Following an introduction which outlines the importance of transition services and meaningful outcomes, topics covered in the remaining chapters include: Person Centered Transition Planning; Enhancing Competence and Independence; Employment Assessment and Career Development; Collaboration between Agencies for a Seamless Transition; Independent Living and Supported Living; and Community Functioning Skills. The book will be of interest to all those who work with transition age students as well as those who work with adults with disabilities and want to enable them to have the best life possible. To paraphrase Helen Keller "people with disabilities not only need to be given lives, they need to be given lives worth living."
Career Success of Disabled High-Flyers by Sonali Shah
ISBN: 9781843102083
Publication Date: 2005-04-15
Drawing on case studies of 31 adults with disabilities, this book suggests that individual traits and patterns of behavior are key factors in career success, and shows that it is often society rather than impairment that hinders professional progression. It provides role models and valuable insights for young career-minded people with disabilities. It will also help inform policy and practice in education and training about disability and equality in schools, employment, and society in general. This book is a must-read, not only for people with disabilities, but for teachers, policy-makers, employers, and anyone with an interest in people with disabilities and career development.
Perfectly Able by Lighthouse Publishing Staff; Jim Hasse (Compiled by, Editor)
ISBN: 9780814415641
Publication Date: 2010-09-01
More than 22 million of the almost 173 million working-age individuals in the United States have one or more disabilities.Perfectly Able offers practical guidance for companies large and small on how to hire and retain talented and motivated people from within this largely untapped pool of potential employees. Illustrated with enlightening personal stories, this one-of-a-kind book provides insight into what it's like to seek employment as an individual with a disability. Readers will discover how to: * Evaluate how suited their workplace environment is for disabled or different employees who are disabled or different and what needs to be changed * Improve and sustain their workforce by hiring the best people, regardless of any disability or diversity issue * Effectively recruit, place, and develop individuals with disabilities who can contribute to their company's success * Embrace the differences among their workforce to add value to the organization.
The Wonderful World of Work by Andrew Hore (Illustrator); Yenn Purkis
ISBN: 9781849054997
Publication Date: 2014-03-21
This hands-on workbook demystifies the world of work in order to help teenagers with Asperger syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) feel confident in their ability to be successful at their studies and get a job. Each chapter talks the teen through a different element of employment, including the benefits of having a job, why education is important, how to write a resume and succeed at job interviews, and the advantages and disadvantages of autism in the workplace. A variety of different industries and jobs are explored to encourage teens to begin to think about careers that might appeal to them and suit their skills and interests. Full of practical information, engaging activities, funny illustrations and inspiring personal stories, this book gives Asperteens a positive image of what people on the autism spectrum can achieve and is an essential career guidance aid for parents and teachers working with young adults.

Other Online Resources for Students with Disabilities

These online resources provide a wide range of information about job search and career opportunities for people with disabilities.

AbilityJobs is a website that is dedicated to the employment of people with disabilities from entry level candidates to PhDs. One hundred percent of the jobs posted on this site are from employers specifically seeking to hire people with disabilities. It also includes information on requesting assistance by way of reasonable accommodations as stated under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ways to balance work, life, and disability, and new research on disability and the workplace. You can also earn about the steps you can take to get hired by the US Government through Schedule A, which streamlines the hiring process for persons with disabilities.

AbilityLinks connects self-identified applicants with disabilities to a network of employers that value disability inclusion. It also includes resources for job seekers who want to to better define what kind of job they're looking for, what specific skills they can offer, and how those line up with available jobs.

CareerOneStop for Workers with Disabilities offers resources and information to support your successful employment. Whether your disability is visible or not, a recent change or a long-term condition, your participation in the workforce is in demand. Information and resources include defining disability and the ADA, gaining skills, job search techniques, interviews, disclosing a disability, job accommodations, and vocational rehabilitation.

The ECC Career Center

The ECC Career Center

The ECC Career Center is is an excellent resource for students with disabilities who are interested in exploring career options and job opportunities. The Center is available to support you as you explore career possibilities and potential job opportunities. Because the campus is currently closed to students and visitors, Career Counseling Services are now available in a virtual environment. You can use this link to Make a Career Appointment.

The Career Center staff can support you in a variety of ways, including:

Assist you in decision making when you're feeling stuck or still exploring majors and careers.
Review your resume with a focus on your transferable skills and provide feedback to increase your opportunities toward current and future employment.
Prepare you for interviews through strategies reviews and mock interviews that will help you make the best possible first impression.
Discuss other career-related topics and issues including job sustainability, salary negotiation, and career advancement opportunities.

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