People with disabilities represent a largely untapped talent pool. Through our Employment Services Program, we connect individuals with businesses that are hiring. We have worked with hundreds of businesses in Virginia and consistently hear that disability inclusion sparks innovation and enhances the workplace culture. When each team member’s distinctive background and experience is celebrated, employees are more likely to share their perspective.

Businesses that integrate people with disabilities into the workplace report increased productivity, higher retention rates, lower absenteeism, increased employee morale and improved bottom line.

The following resources are available to help your business create a more inclusive workforce and promote successful employment for employees with disabilities. These organizations and websites provide valuable information for businesses to hire, train and retain a strong workforce.

CareerOneStop Business Center
Your source for help hiring, training and retaining a strong workforce.

Resources for  Workers  with Disabilities
Find resources and information to support successful employment for your employees with disabilities. While written for people with disabilities, the resources and information included in this section are valuable for employers to understand their employees and potential employees with disabilities perspective.

Centers for Independent Living 
CILs promote independent living and equal access for people of all ages with all types of disabilities. They often work with local employers interested in hiring qualified workers with disabilities.

Independence Empowerment Center (IEC)
(703) 257-5400
Serving: Fauquier, Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William Counties

Endependence Center, Inc. (ECI)
(757) 461-8007
ECI provides an array of independent living services to individuals with disabilities and to the community. Serving: South Hampton Roads, including the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Southampton County and Isle of Wight County.

Disability:IN
Disability:IN is the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. Its network of over 400 corporations expands opportunities for people with disabilities across enterprises. The central office and 25 affiliates serve as the collective voice to effect change for people with disabilities in business.

Disability:IN DC Metro
The local affiliate of Disability:IN®, formerly the USBLN®., is the largest regional member network of a variety of industry employers advocating for inclusion of individuals with disabilities in today’s workforce, marketplace and supply chain.

Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) is a free resource that helps employers tap the benefits of disability diversity by educating public- and private-sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures. EARN offers information and resources to empower individuals and organizations to become leaders in the employment and advancement of people with disabilities. For a great starting point, check out EARN’s 7 Ways to Express A Commitment to Workplace Inclusion.

Inclusion@Work: A Framework for Building a Disability-Inclusive Organization
Developed with input from a range of employers with exemplary track records in disability employment, the Inclusion@Work Framework outlines seven core components of a disability-inclusive workplace, along with a menu of strategies for achieving them.

Job Accommodation Network 
JAN provides free consulting services for all employers, regardless of the size of an employer’s workforce. Services include one-on-one consultation about all aspects of job accommodations, including the accommodation process, accommodation ideas, product vendors, referral to other resources and ADA compliance assistance.

JAN’s Workplace Accommodation Toolkit 
This is a free, comprehensive online resource for employers seeking to move beyond basic compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to create more disability-inclusive workplaces.

LEAD Center
People with disabilities make significant contributions to America’s workforce, but can face systemic barriers to obtaining jobs and securing their financial well-being. On this site, you will learn about resources, programs and partnerships that can create an inclusive workforce system. The LEAD Center’s work supports people with disabilities and people who work on employment and workforce development at the state and local level.

National Disability Institute
National Disability Institute influences thinking and behavior through pioneering research, advocacy, policy development, training and technical assistance. They collaborate with hundreds of organizations throughout the country—from financial institutions and employers to government and community organizations—to empower people with disabilities and their families to build a better financial future.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) 
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities.

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)
PEAT’s mission is to foster collaborations in the technology space that build inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities. Its vision is a future where new and emerging technologies are accessible to the workforce by design.

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitation Services
The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, in collaboration with community partners, provides and advocates for resources and services to improve the employment, quality of life, security and independence of older Virginians, Virginians with disabilities, and their families.

DARS Consumer Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program
The Consumer Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program helps people with disabilities get ready for, find, and keep a job. It helps to increase their ability to live independently in their communities. The Consumer VR program works with individuals with every type of disability. VR services include but are not limited to, vocational counseling, training and job placement.

WorkforceGPS Disability and Employment Community 
The Disability and Employment Community is an online learning one-stop destination for the American Job Center network, people with disabilities and employers. In addition, it is a resource for all key stakeholders who partner with the workforce system to provide services and programs to people with disabilities and/or other barriers to employment.

Best Practices Resource Guides

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