The Viscardi Center

at The Viscardi Center

Providing a lifespan of programs and services that educate, employ and empower children and adults with disabilities.
An employer membership organization and comprehensive resource for disability employment best practices.

DONATE

Header Links

  • Login
  • Media Room
  • Contact Us

Share

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Abilities, Inc.
    • E-Learning
    • Henry Viscardi School
    • The Disability Entrepreneurship Institute
    • Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center
    • Services by Type
    • Services by Age/Audience
    • Services for Businesses
    • How to Obtain Services
  • Our Stories
    • Adults
    • Businesses
    • Children
    • Donors
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give
    • Together We Soar Campaign
    • Advocacy
    • Volunteer
    • Share Your Story
    • Viscardi Alumni
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Media Room
    • Viscardi Voice Newsletter
  • Digital Accessibility
    • Document Accessibility
    • Web Accessibility
    • Captioning & CART Services
    • Audio Description
    • ADA Bundle
    • Viscardi Multimedia Learning Center
  • About
    • History
    • Staff Leadership and Boards of Directors
    • Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards
    • Sunny
    • FAQs
    • Careers
    • Financials
    • Contact Us
www.viscardicenter.org > Viscardi Blog > Education > Four Things to Remember When Job Hunting with a Disability

Four Things to Remember When Job Hunting with a Disability

April 23, 2019 by Mike Caprara

  • A A A

Finding employment can be tricky, but there are ways to streamline the search

 April 23, 2019

 Rachel Gross

Young man leaning next to a young woman in a wheelchair reviewing a document.

Since graduating from Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations in December, I have been trying to find a job. So far, I haven’t had much luck. However, I have gone on a few interviews and learned a little bit about the job hunt process. Here are four things to keep in mind when job hunting with a disability:

Keep your resume in tip-top shape
Your resume is the first thing most employers will see when you apply to a job. Think of it as a first impression. You want your resume to impress your potential employer. You want them to remember it. As they say, first impressions last. My suggestion is to just take a look at it every so often, even if you don’t have anything to add. You could always spice it up by changing the layout or design.

Make sure the job site is accessible
I once applied to a job and was contacted by the employer wanting to schedule an interview. Of course, I responded right away and scheduled the interview for the next week. However, a few days before, a little inkling inside of me told me to ask if their office was wheelchair accessible. I sent an email asking and they responded saying that their office is located on the second floor and there was no elevator. So, there went that idea. Obviously, there was no way that was going to work. It’s hard to believe that even today, not all places are accessible. But that’s the reality we live in. It’s a good thing I listened to my gut, otherwise I would’ve gone all the way to where the interview was, only to find out I couldn’t even get to the office. Lesson learned = always be prepared!

During an interview, focus on what you CAN do, not what you can’t
When going on an interview, you want to make it clear that you are not only qualified, but also capable of fulfilling the duties of the position. Unfortunately, it is common for people to doubt our abilities due to our disabilities. There’s not much we can do about that. But what we can do is show them what we are capable of. Talk yourself up a little bit. Give them examples of why you would be an asset to their team.

Don’t give up
Finding a job when you have a disability is hard, and at times it may feel impossible. Trust me, I know. People without disabilities have a hard time finding jobs in general. We must go the extra mile to prove that we are the right candidate for the position. We are often looked over for others who are less qualified. We aren’t always given a chance. The struggle is REAL. But these are the reasons that keep you going. Somewhere out there is the perfect job for you. Don’t give up. I’m not.

Rachel Gross

Rachel Gross

Henry Viscardi School Class of 2014
Rachel graduated from Hofstra University in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a minor in civic engagement. She runs her own blog about beauty and disability advocacy and hopes to use her expertise to advocate for disability rights.

Filed Under: Education, Employment, Empowerment

News & Events

  • News

    >

  • Blog

    >

  • Events

    >

  • Media Room

    >

  • Viscardi Voice Newsletter

    >

Blog Categories

  • Empowerment
  • Education
  • Employment

Events

Hands over a keyboard

Webinar on Digital Accessibility Fundamentals

[php snippet=2]

NY Islanders defensemen Scott Mayfield and Ryan Pulock and actor Kevin James standing behind Viscardi CEO Dr. Chris Rosa and two Henry Viscardi School male students

Celebrity Sports Night

[php snippet=2]

View All Events

Related Posts

Neon sign that reads Portland Oregon Old Town, on top of a building.

Public Agency Cooperatives Have Their Advantages When It Comes to Making Digital Assets Accessible

A plant in front of a laptop showing a virtual meeting.

Best Ways to Make Virtual Meetings Accessible

A graphic with a network of social media and web icons over an image of hands typing on a laptop keyboard

Should WCAG Compliance Be Your Goal?

Recent Posts

View All >
  • Get Your Wheels on Fire Socks Today!

    March 21, 2023 March 21, 2023 The Viscardi Center is thrilled to announce that it is John’s Crazy Socks’ latest charity partner. John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son social enterprise, here on Long Island, inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome. 10% of the sales of John’s latest sock design, titled Wheels on Fire, [...] Read More...
  • The Passing of Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Advocate

    March 4, 2023 March 4, 2023 Our hearts are heavy upon learning the news of the passing of Judy Heumann. The disability community has lost a disability rights giant and a trailblazer who has influenced generations – mine included - and will continue to for many years to come. As Justin Dart, Jr. was seen as the “Father [...] Read More...
  • Public Agency Cooperatives Have Their Advantages When It Comes to Making Digital Assets Accessible

    March 1, 2023 March 1, 2023 Michael Caprara Photo by Zack Spear on Unsplash Studies have shown that efficiency, volume discounts, more effective sharing of relevant resources and information, and cost savings are just a few of the advantages of cooperative purchasing. As a public agency, your organization may be able to benefit from cooperative purchasing power when [...] Read More...
  • Best Ways to Make Virtual Meetings Accessible

    February 2, 2023 February 2, 2023 Michael Caprara Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash Why do virtual meetings need to be accessible? Well, why not? We live in a day and age where technology is continuing to evolve at a fast pace as it is becoming more and more integral to our daily lives. In recent years, we have [...] Read More...
  • 2022 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards Bestowed

    December 2, 2022 December 3, 2022 The Viscardi Center, a renowned non-profit organization that educates, employs, and empowers people with disabilities, announced six recipients of the 2022 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards. The Awards were first bestowed in 2013 to honor the vision and legacy of the Center’s founder, Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., a leading disability advocate who himself [...] Read More...
  • Reach for a Star 40th Anniversary Receives Rave Reviews!

    November 29, 2022 November 29, 2022 The Viscardi Center’s annual Reach for a Star Luncheon celebrated its 40th Anniversary on November 15, 2022, at the Crest Hollow Country Club. This year’s luncheon happily returned to in-person after being remote for two years due to the pandemic. It was a magical event filled with music and joy. Chilina Kennedy, [...] Read More...

Contact Us

The Viscardi Center
National Business & Disability Council at The Viscardi Center
201 I.U. Willets Road
Albertson, NY 11507
516.465.1400
info@viscardicenter.org
Careers at the Viscardi Center | Staff Log in
Accessibility | Privacy | Site Map

Sign up For Enews

The Viscardi Center is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit recognized by the IRS.

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram

© 2023 The Viscardi Center. All rights reserved. | Designed & Developed by Infinite Media Corp.