Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

By Hilary Rosselot

October is a time that draws the attention of the nation on critical issues related to disability employment, bringing awareness to a subject that we know has importance all year round. We know many individuals living with Fragile X want to work and though some do, not everyone who wants a job has found one that best fits their strengths and skillsets. We are determined to help you educate yourself on the supports that exist and how to best advocate for you or your loved ones needs in the workplace.

Looking for employment opportunities? Here are some resources and tips to get you started:

• Association of People Supporting Employment First has a great directory of resources at the federal and state level.
• Your local ARC could also be a great place to start.
• Vocational Rehabilitation services are available in every state and are available to help individuals with disabilities find and keep a job.
• Your county or state likely has a developmental disability services office or board. They can be a good place to start when searching for any local resource, employment-focused or otherwise.
  • The name and department may differ from state to state, so you can start by checking within the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Aging/Disabilities, or Department of Public Health.
  • This is likely the group that can help you find
  • Your waiver status may determine what information or services are available to you. Be sure you ask lots of questions!
• If you’re at a college or university that receives federal funding, they are required to have accessible programming for individuals with disabilities. They likely have an office of disability services- or something similar- that you can reach out to learn more.
• Already have a job? Check out the Office of Disability Employment’s Job Accommodation Network for helpful tips and tools for disclosing, requesting, and advocating for yourself in the workplace.

We know how incredible it is when individuals with Fragile X have the opportunity to showcase their skills, gain new ones, and thrive in a work environment with their peers, and there is now research that underlines why an inclusive workplace is important for all businesses. Accenture’s Disability Inclusion Imperative report shows there is a business case to hiring individuals with disabilities…

“…companies that have led on key disability inclusion criteria over that time saw 1.6 times more revenue, 2.6 times more net income and 2 times more economic profit than other companies in the DEI. Further, leaders are more likely to outperform industry peers in productivity by 25 percent.”

As you can see, this work stretches across our strategic priorities. Here is what we are doing and will continue to do:

• We are ADVOCATING for inclusive workplaces by monitoring legislation that supports individuals in the workplace and taking action in partnership with groups like the CEO Commission for Disability Employment.
• We are EDUCATING the Fragile X community about the resources at their fingertips to help them find and retain great jobs.
• We are sharing invaluable RESEARCH that incentivizes companies to create and sustain an inclusive workplace.
• We are ensuring that TREATMENT for symptoms of Fragile X syndrome or the Fragile X premutation that may impact work can be treated by knowledgeable professionals within the Fragile X Clinical & Research Consortium.

We know it can be a challenge to find work, especially a great place to work. But we also know that meaningful work greatly contributes to overall satisfaction. We are committed to finding and creating the right resources and tools to help you on your search!