Highlight your job opening for persons with disabilities

By checking the [x] highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities permission checkbox on your job posting, you are tapping into a diverse and talented candidate pool. You increase the exposure of your job by highlighting it for non-profit, community-based organizations in your area that help employers meet their needs for diversity and outreach by referring pre-screened, qualified candidates with disabilities for your job openings.

Why Recruit Persons with Disabilities?

Some industries are already beginning to feel the crunch of a shrinking workforce. Over the next 5-10 years, this phenomenon is expected to spread. Employers are discovering that recruiting people with disabilities is not only good for diversity but may also become necessary to remain competitive in business.

According to focus group research conducted by EARN in 2004, one of the most significant workforce issues facing employers today is finding and retaining qualified employees. Unfortunately, these same employers often have the misconception that people with disabilities are unable to perform the type of work the organization needs to be done. In reality, studies show that employees with disabilities perform equally or superior to employees without disabilities and also have average to above-average retention rates.

Please see: Employer and Talent Case Studies

Tax Incentives

State and Federal tax incentives are available to employers hiring, retaining and accommodating people with disabilities:

• EEOC - Facts About Disability-Related Tax Provisions
• Accessing the Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Businesses and organizations intending to use tax incentives should contact their tax advisor before claiming these credits and deductions. Ask your tax advisor about possible tax incentives in your state.

Employers Cite Examples of Success:

Pittsburgh Business Times: Focus On Ability

NASA: "Not that people with disabilities can't do things, they just do them differently"

Microsoft: "If you want to be a business leader and want access to top talent and enhanced market opportunity, you should absolutely promote accessibility."

RRTC's BizNet: In Virginia, Manpower and SunTrust Bank share a commitment to including more people with disabilities in the work force.

Consider These Additional Resources

• EARN (The Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network) is employer's nationwide, cost-free one stop resource to access disability employment resources and workforce talent. Employers can easily sign up and post jobs postings by calling or on the EARNWorks website. Contact an EARN Employment Specialist at: earn@earnworks.com or toll-free at 1-866-327-6669. EARN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.
• National Council For Support of Disability Issues offers free tools, downloadable presentations and trainings on disability employment issues for both employers and jobseekers.
• AbilityLinks is a free resource for employers, jobseekers and service providers in the Chicago Metro area.
• The ADA & IT Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs*) are your comprehensive resource for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act and accessible information technology. Call toll free at 1-800-949-4232 (V/TTY) for the MOST complete and experienced services available to American businesses, government entities and the public.
• DisabilityInfo.gov is the federal government's portal Web site for people with disabilities, their families, employers, veterans, workforce professionals and many others.
• Job Accommodations Networks can help employers find specific accommodation solutions. Go online or call 800-ADA-WORK (800-526-7234 v/tty) for resources and advice on accommodation questions.

So if you'd like to access all of this, make sure to check the box [x] highlight job opening for persons with disabilities in your job posting.