Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

By Hilary Rosselot

October draws the nation’s attention to critical issues related to disability employment, bringing awareness to a subject that we know is important 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 your or your loved ones’ needs in the workplace.

Learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month from the U.S. Labor Department.

Looking for Employment Opportunities?

Here are some resources and tips to get you started:

Association of People Supporting Employment First
Includes a great resource directory at the federal and state levels.

ARC
Read more about the ARC Employment initiative, and locate your local ARC.

Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation services are available in every state and are available to help individuals with disabilities find and keep a job.

Your Local Intellectual-Developmental Disabilities Agency
Your county or state likely has a developmental disability services office or board. These can be good places to start when searching for any local resource, employment-focused or otherwise. Your waiver status may determine what information or services are available to you. Be sure you ask lots of questions! The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services (NASDDDS) has a map and list of each state’s intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) agencies. Also, check out the Administration for Community Living (ACL), which has a list of statewide independent living councils and centers for independent living by state and a list of aging and disability networks.

Federally Funded Colleges and Universities
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 about.

Job Accommodation Network
Locate your local state vocational rehabilitation agency and learn more about accommodations for job seekers from their list of information and resources for job seekers. They also have helpful tips and tools for disclosing, requesting, and advocating for yourself in the workplace.

Other resources include the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Aging/Disabilities, and the Department of Public Health.

Advocating for Opportunities

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 for 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:

• Advocacy: 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.
• Education: We are EDUCATING you, the Fragile X community, about the resources at your fingertips to help you find and retain great jobs.
• Research: We share invaluable RESEARCH that incentivizes companies to create and sustain an inclusive workplace.
• Treatment: We are ensuring that knowledgeable professionals within the Fragile X Clinical & Research Consortium can treat symptoms of Fragile X syndrome or the Fragile X premutation that may impact work.

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 in your search!