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November 10, 2004    DOL Home > ODEP > Publications > Ed Kit 2001

Employing People with Disabilities Q&A

Employers often have questions regarding hiring and accommodating persons with disabilities. Below are the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Q: Where can employers find qualified applicants with disabilities?

A: Qualified applicants with disabilities can be located through various resources, including Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). VR personnel can assist in job training, job placement and reasonable accommodation, and can provide follow-up services to both the person with a disability and the employer. The nearest vocational rehabilitation office will be listed in the local telephone directory under the State government listings. In some states the agency is called Division of Rehabilitation Services. VR agencies can also be contacted through local One-Stop Career Centers.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor financially assisted programs

  • Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP): This contracted service of ODEP is a free nationwide database of pre-screened, qualified postsecondary students and recent college graduates with disabilities from a wide variety of majors, who are available for permanent and temporary positions. Employers can search the database by state or job category, obtain specific information on candidate's qualifications, then conduct independent employment interviews. To learn more about the WRP call 1-866-633-7365 (V) or 1-877-889-5627 (TTY) or write <wrp@dol.gov>.
  • Employment Assistance Referral Network (EARN): This contracted service of ODEP is another free service to which employers provide specific job vacancy information to EARN staff who survey local disability-related employment organizations to locate providers who have qualified, job-ready candidates for the employer's position(s). EARN conveys this information to the employer, who then contacts the employment provider(s) directly. EARN can be contacted at 866-EarnNow (866-327-6669), or through its website <www.earnworks.com>.
  • Job Links: A free Internet service of ODEP, Job Links enables employers who list job openings on their Website to request a link to their employment information. Prospective applicants can then contact the employer directly. Employers who wish to be listed should contact ODEP at 1-866-633-7365. To visit Job Links go to <www.dol.gov/odep>.
  • disAbility.gov <www.disability.gov>
    The Employers' Resource section of this site contains information on interviewing, recruiting and hiring people with disabilities, including links to resume posting sites for people with disabilities.

Q: What does an employer need to know about interviewing individuals with disabilities?

A: An employer may not make a pre-employment-offer inquiry on an application form or in an interview as to whether, or to what extent, an individual is disabled. The employer may ask a job applicant whether he or she can perform particular job functions. Additional information on interviewing applicants with disabilities can be found at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) Website at <www.eeoc.gov/docs/guidance-inquiries>.

Q: How may employers contact and communicate with applicants who have hearing and speech disabilities? 

A: Employers may contact and communicate with applicants with hearing and/or speech disabilities in several ways: writing directly to the applicant, using e-mail or using a telecommunications device for deaf persons (TTY). A TTY is a simple keyboard device which can be attached to a telephone or plugged into a telephone line. A person who is deaf using a TTY can have a typed conversation over the telephone with another individual who also has a TTY.

If only one caller has a TTY, a conversation can be conducted using the nationwide Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). TRS employs specially-trained Communications Assistants (CA) who serve as "confidential bridges" between TTY users with hearing or speech disabilities and users of standard telephones. The relay service operator reads the typed part of the conversation to the hearing individual and 
types the spoken part of the conversation to the person with a hearing or speech disability.

In at least 10 states the relay service can be reached by dialing 711. If 711 service is not available in a given area, the TRS number can be found in the front of the local telephone directory. A nationwide listing of TRS telephone numbers can be found at <www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/trs.html>.

A new, free telephone assistance service called Speech-to-Speech (STS) provides CA's who are trained to "interpret" for people whose speech is difficult to understand on the telephone. STS is provided through the TRS relay in each state. Unlike TRS, STS enables people with speech disabilities to communicate by voice through a CA, as many people with speech disabilities have difficulty typing. A directory of STS relay access numbers can be found at <www.stsnews.com/ >.

If requested by a person who is deaf, an employer must usually provide the services of a an effective sign language interpreter. Sign language interpreters can be located under "Translators and Interpreters" in the local telephone yellow pages directory. Employers also may contact the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) in Silver Spring, MD at 301-608-0050 or visit the Website at <www.rid.org> to obtain a free list of interpreter service agencies nationwide. 

Q: How can employers make information accessible for individuals with visual and learning disabilities?

A: Information may be made accessible to individuals with visual and learning disabilities in alternative formats:

  • Large print: Information can be formatted by changing the font size on an office computer or with a photocopier with enlargement capability. Commercial copier companies can readily increase the size of the print of any document. A minimum of 14-point print, preferably in a sans-serif typeface, is necessary for individuals with visual disabilities.
  • Audiocassette: Documents and other information may be read onto audiotape for playback on standard cassette recorders.
  • Electronic access: Documents already on computers can easily be made available on computer disk for persons with visual or learning disabilities.
  • Braille: Documents can be produced in Braille in-house using special computer software and a Braille embosser, or through commercial Braillers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has extensive information on providing and producing alternative formats. NLS maintains a list of commercial Braille transcribers. To contact NLS, call 202-707-9275 or toll-free: 800-424-8567 (ask for reference). A list of Braille transcribers can also be found at <duxburysystems.com/resource.asp>.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a federally financially assisted service of ODEP, has an extensive list of resources for alternative formats. Contact JAN at 800-JAN-7234 or visit the web site at <www.jan.wvu.edu>

Q: Where can employers find information about reasonable accommodations for individuals with various disabilities?

A: The best source of information about reasonable accommodations usually is the individual with a disability. 

If an applicant or employee with a disability is not certain what he or she needs, an excellent resource is the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). JAN is an international toll-free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations and the employability of people with disabilities. Calls are answered by consultants who have instant access to the most comprehensive and up-to-date information about accommodation methods, devices and strategies. JAN preserves the confidentiality of communication between caller and consultant. 

For those who want to explore possible accommodations JAN operates SOAR, a Searchable On-Line Accommodation Resource <http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/index.html>. JAN also has publications which provide accommodation ideas grouped by disability. Employers can access JAN by calling 800-JAN-7234 or by visiting JAN's web site at <www.jan.wvu.edu>.

The EEOC has published Enforcement Guidance: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as specific guidance on reasonable accommodation for the small employer titled Small Employers And Reasonable Accommodation. To obtain copies, call EEOC: 
800-669-4000 (V), 800-669-6820 (TTY) or visit EEOC's Website at <http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html>.

This publication is available in alternate formats.

July 2001



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