The Right Talent, Right Now Workplaces welcoming of the talents of all people, including people with disabilities, are a critical part of an inclusive community and strong economy. How can we, collectively and individually, reinforce the value and talent people with disabilities add to our workplaces and communities? What actions can we take right now to raise awareness that employers, …
Visual Resumes: How to Create a “Wow” Factor
Wow! That’s the response you may be able to get when an employer sees your visual resume. Make a great first impression with a visual resume and see if it would be right for you. What is a visual resume? A visual resume shows your abilities and strengths using images and creative layouts. It shows your strengths with positive and powerful images …
Get a New or Better Job: Step Four: Social Media and Networking
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are all avenues that can be either your friend or enemy when it comes to job search and networking. It can be a great friend if done correctly, but an enemy if it isn’t up to date or showcases a lack of professionalism. How can you use social media to your advantage? Why would you want …
Get a New or Better Job: Step Three: Resume Writing
I bet you thought Step Two was “Write a Resume.” A common misconception is that resumes are “one size fits all,” meaning you submit the same resume for all of the jobs you are applying for. Sometimes that may be the case, but that might not be the best approach. I’ll tell you why. In this day and age, it …
Get a New or Better Job: Step Two: Find Opportunities
Now that you know the types of jobs you are interested in, where can you find job opportunities? To state the obvious, job openings are typically posted online. While there clearly other ways to search for jobs, I will focus exclusively on online job postings and resources. Numerous online resources can help you identify available job opportunities in your area. …
Get a New or Better Job: Step One: Identify Interests
People often think the first step in a job search is writing a resume, but that isn’t true for everyone. Before diving into a job search, it’s important to consider the types of jobs that you are interested in and the skills you most enjoy using. If you haven’t been interested in or passionate about your past jobs, it probably …
Equal Rights and Opportunities: Celebrating the ADA
If you have a disability, you have the same rights to opportunities and employment as anyone else. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law that protects these rights. Happy Anniversary to the ADA! July 26, 2019 marked the 29th Anniversary of the ADA. The ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) give civil rights protections to …
Wisconsin Union and Porchlight: Employer Partnership Success
“If you identify individual strengths they have and work with employees to structure positions so that it plays to those strengths, it’s a win-win for the job-seeker and employer.” Mike Edwards, Employment Specialist, ERI Bret Kuhn enjoys his job doing dishes and coordinating with other staff at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Union South. He likes listening to music while working, his …
Be Diverse! Strengthen Your Business and Your Community
When you invest in a diverse workforce, you build a team that has a depth of talent, innovation, and dedication not found in non-inclusive workforces. The more diverse your team is, the more skillful and innovative they will be in accomplishing the goals and resolving the challenges you set before them. People with disabilities are often overlooked as a source …
Advancing Employment First and Building Full Lives: Working Together
Wisconsin is an Employment First state, where we work together to Build Full Lives. Advancing Employment FirstJust because you have a disability doesn’t mean you don’t want to work and participate in your community like everyone else. Employment First is a framework centered on the belief that all citizens, including individuals with significant disabilities, are capable of full participation in integrated employment and community …