October Marks 75th National Disability Employment Awareness Month

This month marks 75 years of celebrating the disabled workforce and a national nonprofit is on a mission to help even more people get back into a fulfilling job.

With 25 years’ experience serving individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, NTI@Home has helped thousands overcome the myriad challenges that come with trying to supplement benefits income to make ends meet.

“It can be difficult for people to get back to work after being away for a while,” said Alan Hubbard, NTI’s Chief Operating Officer. “That’s understandable, but Americans with disabilities have services available to them to help in the process.”

One of the first steps to making a job search easier is working through the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program. The Ticket to Work program is a free and voluntary Social Security program that helps people who receive disability benefits return to work or work for the first time. According to the Social Security Administration, the Ticket to Work program is a good fit for people who want to improve their earning potential and are committed to preparing for long-term success in the workplace.

The Social Security Administration recommends that you look at the type of services the Employment Networks provide and whether benefits counseling is offered and how available they are to meet with. In the wake of COVID-19, will they be offering virtual support and services?

“Before you meet with them, make sure you have a list of questions you want to ask them,” said Hubbard. “It is important that you think about what you want and what you think you need help with. That will help you find the right Employment Network.”

“Once you have these questions answered, you should have a good idea on what Employment Network you should go with,” said Hubbard. “You should also have an idea of where you would like to work and what you need to get the job you want.”

Make sure the Employment Network you could be working for knows your career goals and can make any accommodations you may need. You should also know who is on their staff, what skills they have, if they have references and if they have worked with clients like you.

If you are 18 to 64 years old and receive disability benefits (SSI or SSDI), you are eligible to work with Employment Networks like NTI@Home. Each Employment Network offers a variety of services including benefits counseling, ongoing employment support service, job leads and job placement services, and assistance with disability issues. NTI helps Americans with disabilities find at-home jobs working call centers for government organizations, Fortune 500, and large and small businesses. They also provide free job coaching services and skills training through the online platform NTI University.

For the 61 million Americans with visible and invisible disabilities, the opportunity to work remotely has never been more attractive or more available. Learn more about returning to work by visiting www.NTIatHome.org.

This article is part of NTI@Home's #WorkforceWednesday series, celebrating 30 years of the ADA by showcasing employment opportunities available for the 1 in 4 Americans with disabilities.