How to Manage Disability Resources
While there are several thousand different types of positions available for every job, there are as many or more people available to go the position. Just because a person may be disabled doesn't mean that they cannot do the job. There are several disability resources available to employers as well as employees that are disabled or hire disabled workers.
- Interview the disabled potential employee as you would with any other potential employee. Be mindful that they may not be capable of some types of work depending on their disability. Review their job skills and qualifications. Don't be shy about asking them about their disability. No matter what it is, the employer needs to know what restrictions they may have. Every disabled person is aware of this.
- Once hired, make sure that appropriate accommodations are made for them so that they can perform the job to the best of their ability. This might mean a special handicap bathroom may need to be reserved, work stations need to be made suitable to accommodate their disability and everything needs to be wheelchair accessible, if necessary.
- Evaluate their job performance regularly. This should be the same style of evaluation that you give every other employee; however, their disability should be kept in mind as it may alter how an evaluation is given. Make sure that you talk with them individually about their job performance and ask them if everything is okay as far as working with a disability. If they are having difficulties, make sure that it is not due to their disability and inquire about whether there is anything that you as the employer can do to improve the situation.