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Recruiting and Work Placement Options

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When it comes to tapping into the pool of qualified workers with disabilities, you'll quickly discover there are a great many pools!

Depending on your business needs and the nature of the work to be performed, a wide variety of recruiting and work placement options are available that cover a broad spectrum.  The following will provide a brief overview of the types of work placement options to help you determine which type of placement will work for your company.

But first, let's look at the six primary ways workers with disabilities can be recruited.

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The following recruiting avenues are the ones most commonly used by employers:

Job seekers with disabilities may simply make direct contact with employers
to apply for open positions.  Employers can post job opening announcements
with agencies, organizations, schools and colleges, and at online job banks 
developed for and visited by job seekers with disabilities.

Some job seekers with disabilities may work with a state agency, such as the
state Vocational Rehabilitation Division, Commission for the Blind, or 
Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  Employers may receive direct 
contact from the applicant or be contacted, on the client's behalf, by a vocational counselor or placement specialist employed by the agency.  The 
agency provides job placement assistance and support to both the client and employer.  

If you have a position opening, agencies can help match qualified candidates.

Some job seekers with disabilities may work with a private rehabilitation firm.
Employers may receive direct contact from the applicant or be contacted, on 
the client's behalf, by a vocational counselor or placement specialist 
employed by the company.  The company provides job placement assistance 
and support to both the client and employer.  

If you have a position opening, private rehabilitation firms can help match
qualified candidates. 

Some job seekers and workers may receive job placement services, job
training, and/or work opportunities from a nonprofit vocational training
program, such as St. Vincent de Paul, Portland Habilitation Center,
Tualatin Valley Workshop, Goodwill Industries, and others.  

The program can help match qualified candidates to position openings and 
provide assistance and support to both the worker and employer.  Some 
programs also offer contract work arrangements to employers.  The work
may be performed by qualified workers at the job site or at the program's
own facility.  

If you have a position opening, or have work needs that could be contracted
out, vocational programs can match qualified candidates and/or provide
qualified workers to perform contracted work assignments.

Some job seekers with disabilities may be affiliated with a nonprofit 
organization that offers job search and/or job placement support.  Job 
placement support and assistance to the client and employer varies 
among organizations.  

If you have a position opening, organizations can help match qualified job 
candidates.

Students attending high school or college may receive job training, work
experience, internship placement, job search, and/or job placement support 
and assistance from school or college personnel.  The amount of support will
vary depending on individual student needs and the amount of support
the school or college is able to provide. 

If you have a position opening or work needs, high schools and colleges 
can help match qualified cooperative work experience students, interns,
student trainees, student workers, or graduates.  To recruit high school
students, contact the high school's Special Education Department or Work
Experience Program.  To recruit college students and graduates, contact the 
Disability Services Office and the Job Placement Office at your local college.

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Depending on the nature of the work and the nature of a worker's disability, work placement options may include:

A qualified job seeker independently applies for job positions on his or her own.

Agency personnel support the client through the job training, job search, 
and/or job placement process.  The level of agency support provided to 
the client and employer will vary based on individual client needs.  
Training may include enrollment in college programs or other vocational 
training avenues, or on-the-job (OJT) training.

Depending on the nature of the work being sought and the client's training
needs, school or agency personnel may help facilitate on-the-job training
for clients at work locations.  The level of initial training support is usually
short-term and will vary with each individual client.  Actual work training is
provided directly by the employer.  Clients acquire job skills through actual
work experience rather than through an educational training program.

Supported employment is a work placement arrangement by which a client
receives long-term support and assistance from a program or agency while
the client is employed.  Workers may be trained and placed in community-
based jobs either individually or in groups (enclaves).  The sponsoring
program provides ongoing individualized help and support to the client
and employer.

Subcontract programs and workshops are operated by nonprofit 
organizations and companies to provide training and work opportunities 
for individuals with disabilities.  Clients train and work at the program's 
onsite facility or perform work assignments at business locations.  
The nonprofit program works with businesses to help meet their labor 
needs by matching workers to contracted jobs.  Workers' earnings are 
paid by the nonprofit program, not the business.

A school district's Special Education Department or Work Experience 
Program helps facilitate and support onsite work experience for high school 
students with disabilities.  Work experience coordinators or other school 
personnel work with employers and provide support and assistance to work experience students.  The length of placement may be short- or long-term.

Many colleges offer cooperative work experience or internship programs to
enable college students, including students with disabilities, to gain actual
work experience in their major field.  Students may seek out work placements
on their own or receive guidance from college cooperative education 
specialists or program department personnel.  Length of placement may be
short- or long-term.  If the student is receiving college credit, the placement
will often be for a period of one academic quarter or semester.

Colleges also offer job search and placement services to current students
seeking employment and graduates ready to launch their careers.

 

As you can see, there are a variety of options and ways to recruit qualified workers with disabilities who can help meet your business needs.  And support is available!

The next section will provide you with resources for making recruiting connections in Oregon, Washington, other states across the country, and nationwide!

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