Job Seekers with Disabilities

Workforce Solutions provides resources to support individuals with disabilities in finding and retaining employment.  All of our Workforce Centers are accessible  to people with disabilities.  Listed below are some resources to assist you. Topics range from accessibility in the community to disability issues in employment.

General Information

According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 1 in 5 of us has a physical or mental disability and 1 in 3 Americans has a close friend or family member with a disability.

Available Accessibility Aids

We also provide some auxiliary aids and Telecommunications Devices readily available for those customers who have vision or hearing impairments.

• Our Denison Workforce Center has 24 accessible computer workstations. 
• Our Bonham and Gainesville Workforce Centers have a minimum of one accessible workstation.
• All centers have the following accessibility aids:
• Aladdin Jeanie Pro Magnifiers, to help individuals with low vision:
• Magnify newspapers or job applications.
• Use color or high-contrast black text on white and white text on black to more easily see small print.
• Use vertical or horizontal line markers to track where the reader is on forms and newspaper ads.
• A tape recorder can be checked out at the front desk for use in group orientations. 
• Pocket Talkers (voice amplification) can also be requested for use by our customers with hearing impairments.

Icons are on all of the computers in our Resource Rooms to access the Microsoft Ease of Access Center.  Through this center, the Magnifier, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard and High Contrast options can be accessed.

• TTY telephones are available to assist job seekers who are deaf or have hearing impairments to communicate for job search purposes.  All of our centers use the Relay Texas system to assist with our deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired job seekers
• Our Denison center has a Braille printer available for job search activities.
   

          Asking for Help

If you have a disability and you require a special service or accommodation, you must let us know, this is your choice and your right.  Disclosing the nature of your disability can have benefits, such as qualifying for training opportunities by eliminating the consideration of other family member’s income.

Other Resources for Jobseekers with Disabilities

The ABCs of SCHEDULE A for Applicants with Disabilities Tips for getting Federal Jobs

• http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/abcs_of_schedule_a.cfm

JobTIPS is a free program designed to help individuals with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder explore career interests, seek and obtain employment, and successfully maintain employment. This website addresses the social and behavioral differences that might make identifying, obtaining, and keeping a job more difficult for you.  

• http://www.do2learn.com/JobTIPS/index.html
• http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/initiatives/lead/abc_applicants_with_disabilities.cfm

The Ticket to Work Program is for Social Security Beneficiaries receiving SSI or SSDI who are interested in going to work.

• www.yourtickettowork.com

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services is a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program that helps people who have physical or mental disabilities prepare for, find or keep employment.

http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ or

http://www.dars.state.tx.us/services/index.shtml

Division for Blind Services (DBS) assists individuals with visual impairment to access employment.  Please call 1-800-687-7010 or 1-(806) 351-3879 for more information.

• The Denison Workforce Center has a DARS Counselor in the office most Tuesdays. 
• The Gainesville Workforce Center has a DARS Counselor in the office on Wednesday and Fridays.  DARS provides orientations on the first and third Tuesday of every month and appointments can be scheduled during this time.  Call (903) 813-8200 for an appointment if you miss the orientation.
• The Bonham Workforce Center has a DARS Counselor in the office on Wednesday and Thursdays. 

*To schedule an appointment call (903) 813-8200 for any workforce center listed above.

Disability Rights Texas is the legal protection and advocacy agency for Texans with disabilities to help people with disabilities understand and exercise their rights under the law.

• http://www.disabilityrightstx.org/
• The Texas Medicaid Buy-In Program offers health insurance coverage to employed people with disabilities.  To find out the eligibility criteria and learn more at http://www.dars.state.tx.us/edc/medicaidbuyin.shtml

Disability.gov is a federal website that contains disability-related resources on programs, services, laws and regulations to help people with disabilities lead full, independent lives.

• www.disability.gov