Empowering Work: Jobs for People with Disabilities

A common concern for those with disabilities is finding work to maintain their livelihoods. Fortunately, there are several suitable and available jobs for people with disabilities. Plus, employers are increasingly employing individuals with disabilities. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22.5% of people with a disability were employed in 2023, the highest ever reported. Read on to learn more about disabilities, including resources and jobs for people with disabilities. 

What is a disability?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines a disability as any condition of the mind or body that causes activity limitation and participation restrictions – the impairment “makes it more difficult for an individual to do certain activities and interact with the world around them.” 

Some disabilities begin at birth, while others can develop or occur as a result of environmental stressors or injury at any stage of a person’s development, from childhood into late adulthood. 

Disabilities do not discriminate based on age, ethnic origin, gender, or race. People from all different kinds of backgrounds can have or develop a disability. Those with disabilities might have serious difficulty with activities like standing or walking, remembering information, thinking or concentrating,  seeing, hearing, communicating, remaining calm, maintaining relationships, and taking care of themselves. 

How many people live with disabilities? 

Having a disability is not as uncommon as some might think. According to the CDC, around 26%, or 61 million, U.S. adults have some type of disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that almost everyone at some point in their lives will permanently or temporarily experience a disability. 

WHO also reports that, currently, about 15% of the world population – more than 1 billion people – have a disability. Moreover, that number is on the rise, increasing the need to identify suitable jobs for people with disabilities. 

What are the categories of disabilities?

Disabilities are generally broken down into developmental, physical, behavioral or emotional (mental), and sensory impairment categories. There is also an uptick in discussions about neurodivergent and invisible vs. visible disabilities. No two people with similar disabilities look the same, as disabilities impact each person differently. 

It’s also possible for a disability to fall under more than one category. Cerebral palsy, for example, is considered a developmental and a physical disability. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is another example that’s considered both a developmental and a mental health or behavioral disability. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a developmental and sensory disability. 

Developmental disabilities

Developmental disabilities, also referred to as learning disabilities, can begin as early as infancy due to an impairment in learning, behavior, physical, and language areas. Examples of developmental disabilities include:

Physical disabilities

Physical disabilities substantially impair one’s ability to be mobile and do basic day-to-day activities, like carrying things, walking up stairs, standing, and lifting. Examples of physical disabilities include:

Emotional or behavioral (mental health) disabilities

Mental health disabilities are characterized by a clinically significant impact on a person’s emotional regulation, cognition, or behavior. These conditions can make it difficult to handle typical activities, like thinking, communicating, and maintaining relationships. Examples of mental health disabilities include:

Sensory disabilities

Sensory disabilities can be linked to an impairment of any of the five senses, which limits and makes day-to-day functioning difficult. Examples of sensory disabilities include: 

Neurodivergent disabilities

There has been an increase in awareness and discussions around neurodivergent conditions, many of which are considered disabilities. Neurodiversity covers an umbrella of variations in the way individuals behave and think, impacting areas like how they learn, focus, recall information, and make decisions. 

Neurodivergent disabilities fall under one of the other four categories listed above, examples of which include:

Invisible vs. visible disabilities

Some disabilities are visible to the human eye, and others are not. Blindness and many mobility disabilities, for example, are visible. Mental health disorders and conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are not easily visible by the human eye, and therefore, are considered invisible. 

What are the required job accommodations for people with disabilities?

Having a disability does not define your ability to work as a professional. In many instances, a person with a disability can do the same type of work as their peers without a disability if they’re provided with suitable accommodations. 

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers must provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), reasonable accommodations are any adjustments or changes to a work environment or job that supports a qualified employee or applicant with a disability to be a part of the job application process, perform essential job functions, and “enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those enjoyed by employees without disabilities.” 

Accommodations help level the playing field between people with and without disabilities. As long as the accommodation is reasonable and wouldn’t cause an undue hardship, the employer is generally required to provide it. 

Someone with an anxiety disorder who qualifies as disabled might ask to work remotely, for example, or someone who has mobility challenges might ask for a specific type of chair or office setup to support their ability to work in the office. 

Jobs for people with disabilities

It is possible for people with disabilities to find jobs that align with their needs and interests. In 2023, the BLS reports that some of the most common occupations held by those with a disability included:

However, these are just a few of the many occupations available to those with a disability. Let’s take a look at jobs for people with disabilities broken down by disability type.

Jobs for people with physical disabilities

With the rise in remote work, it’s easier than previously for individuals with a physical disability to secure work, especially if mobility is a challenge. That said, there are also many high-paying office jobs that require very little physical activity, making them suitable for those with physical disabilities. 

Here are just a few job options to research and consider:

Jobs for people with mental health disabilities

There are several types of mental health disabilities, each having its own set of symptoms and challenges. Often, those with mental health disorders need a job that provides flexibility in terms of being able to work remotely and away from having a lot of people around. Jobs that allow time outdoors or working with animals can also be beneficial. 

Here are some job options to consider if you have a mental health condition, like depression, anxiety, or PTSD: 

Jobs for people with learning disabilities

More and more employers are focusing on diversity and inclusion to employ those with learning disabilities. It’s also shown that those with learning disabilities do well in coding jobs. 

Here are some possible job options to consider for those with a learning disability:

Jobs for people with hearing impairments 

There are several jobs suitable for those with hearing loss, including jobs that deal with people. For example, if you wanted to be a social worker, you might find a niche working with deaf clients. If you desire to be a teacher, you’d be the perfect fit to work with special needs children with hearing challenges. 

Here are some additional jobs to consider for the hearing impaired:

Jobs for people with vision impairments

Unless a job calls for good vision, having vision loss or being blind shouldn't limit your job opportunities. And with the advances in technology, it’s easier today than before to receive quality accommodations, like synthesized audio, to be able to do your job well. 

Here are just a handful of the career possibilities for consideration

Jobs for people with speech impairments

Understandably, those with speech impairments might get anxious at the thought of working with clients and customers. Fortunately, several jobs require little verbal interaction or communication, including:

Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder 

There has been an increase in autism-friendly employers in recent years. As such, there are more career opportunities for those with autism. 

Here are some of the autism-friendly jobs available:

Jobs for people with ADD/ADHD

Jobs that are engaging and creative frequently work well for those with ADD or ADHD. Some job options include:

Government jobs for people with disabilities

Due to a previous Executive Order, the federal government has been actively increasing its efforts to hire those with disabilities in all occupations and levels. The EEOC also issued a rule a few years back requiring federal government employers to enact employment goals for those with disabilities and meet several requirements to enhance the hiring, recruitment, advancement, and retention of those with disabilities working for the federal government. 

So, if you have your heart set on working for the federal government, you have several branches and career paths to choose from. These are just a few of the branches of government to consider: 

• U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

• FEMA

• Social Security

• Bureau of the Fiscal Service

People with disabilities can apply for government jobs in one of two ways. They can go through the competitive process, where they compete with other job candidates, or they can go through a Schedule A hiring authority process, which is a non-competitive process where the candidate has to meet specific requirements.

Go Government offers additional information about these application processes and career resources for those with disabilities.

Organizations that help people with disabilities find jobs 

The following organizations can be great resources to secure jobs for people with disabilities. 

AskJan (Job Accommodation Network)

Suppose you’re curious as to what job is right for you. In that case, AskJan offers “Finding a Job that Is Right for You: A Practical Approach to Looking for a Job as a Person with a Disability,” an excellent resource for job candidates with disabilities who are exploring their career paths and trying to figure out the best choice.

AskJan is also the go-to resource if you have questions about disabilities, what qualifies as a disability under the ADA, and how to request accommodations. They also offer free resources and consultations.

American Job Centers

There are thousands of American Job Centers throughout the country, funded by the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. These centers maintain a list of current job openings and offer free resources to help you find a job. 

Centers for Independent Living (CILs)

Centers for Independent Living can be found throughout the country. They offer services to help individuals live independently and also maintain lists of local employers interested in hiring people with disabilities.  

State governors’ committees and councils

Nearly all state governments have divisions focused on supporting those with disabilities, emphasizing employment. These serve as great resources for those with disabilities to identify possible opportunities and receive assistance with finding employment. 

Social Security (SS) Administration

The Social Security Administration has a Ticket to Work program with several resources to support SS beneficiaries in finding work, including State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies. They also have an Employment Networks (ENs) group where employers enter into agreements with the SS Administration to either provide or coordinate delivery of services to SS disability beneficiaries. 

Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) 

The Workforce Recruitment Program is a service that connects college students, graduate students, and recent graduates with disabilities with federal and select private-sector employers nationwide. These employers hire for internship and permanent job opportunities.  

Job boards for people with disabilities 

The following sites are great options to find jobs for people with disabilities. 

Ability Jobs

Ability Jobs has more than 120,000 job seekers and 6,000 employers registered on its site, with more than 32,000 searchable resumes. The site helps to connect those with disabilities with businesses, governments, and nonprofits. 

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop is an excellent place to search for government jobs. It also offers many resources for those with disabilities.

Hire Disability Solutions

Hire Disability Solutions is a recruitment agency that helps connect candidates with disabilities with employers seeking to hire individuals with disabilities. On its webpage, you can search for jobs from featured employers.

Ability Links

Ability Links is a job board for people with disabilities and veterans to find inclusive employers. You can create an account to apply for one of the over 2000 jobs posted on their site. 

Enable America

Enable America is an organization devoted to increasing employment opportunities for disabled individuals in the U.S. On the Enable America Jobs Board, you can search for jobs by keyword, title, location, and company. 

disABLED Person Inc.

Employers seeking to hire candidates with disabilities post their jobs directly on the disABLEDperson, Inc. website. Candidates can search and apply for jobs, research job salaries, and build their resume on the site.

USAJobs

USAJobs is the best website to use to search for federal government jobs. You can upload your resume and make it searchable to employers, as well as save your favorite jobs from your job search. 

Jobs for people with disabilities are available

Having a disability doesn’t need to hinder your job search process. There are several opportunities available, and as more employers incorporate inclusive practices, those opportunities will continue to increase. In the meantime, hold your head high as you submit your resume for any of the number of available jobs for people with disabilities!

Are you confident your resume sets you apart from the competition? Why not submit it for a free resume review to find out?

Recommended reading:

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• 19 Essential Skills for a Resumes: Examples Included