Article Contributed by Amanda Henderson
Have a Disability? Use Technological Advances to Your Advantage
There are a wealth of job opportunities if you have a disability, especially if you consider work-from-home jobs. Fortunately, if you have a disability, it doesn’t have to hold you back. There are ways to accommodate using technology.
Find a Work-From-Home Job
The Americans With Disabilities Act makes it illegal for a business to discriminate against you due to a disability, and the business has to make reasonable accommodations to help you succeed in the role. However, not all businesses are fully equipped to handle all disabilities. When you’re at home, though, you have all the accommodations you require for success. Therefore, finding a remote job might be in your best interest. The phone and internet make it possible to take on roles in various positions, whether as an editor, web developer, customer service representative, social media manager, or any number of other jobs.
Prepare Your Resume and LinkedIn Page
Prepare your resume and LinkedIn page to put your best foot forward. Highlight your skills, accomplishments, and attributes concisely and accurately. When creating your LinkedIn page, explain your expertise in a few short paragraphs. Have a high-quality photo of yourself that looks professional. To use LinkedIn to your advantage as much as possible, it’s important to connect with the right people to expand your network. It helps to upgrade to the premium version. You can then message people directly and even look at the people and companies interested in you.
Update your resume to include your most recent experience and achievements. Note any computer or interpersonal skills because many employers are looking for these skills in addition to the standard educational requirements and experience. Try a free PDF editor to update your resume if it’s currently in PDF format. The process is as simple as uploading the file, making the necessary changes, and then downloading it. It’s then ready to share with prospective employers.
Use Assistive Devices to Help
Technology has come a long way for everyone, especially those with disabilities. For instance, you can have a screen reader on your computer if you have trouble seeing the print. You may also use a magnification software program on your computer to increase the size of the text.
Most meeting platforms, like Zoom and Google Meet, include AI captioning, which is increasing more accurate. This is a great alternative if there is no live captioning available. You may also use an app that transcribes meetings.
Consider Remote Career Advancement Programs
Maybe it’s time to further your education so that you’re more marketable in your field. If you only have an associate’s degree, earn a bachelor’s. If you already have a bachelor’s, consider a master’s or complete a certificate program. Fortunately, online programs let you complete your work from the comfort of your own home, in an environment already tailored to your disability.
Better Your Life With Technology
Technology has increased the opportunities for people with disabilities by providing them with ways to better adapt. Prepare your resume and LinkedIn page, use assistive devices, go back to school, and consider remote work options. If you need further resources to support you, visit Maryland’s Department of Disabilities.
Maryland ABLE is seeking input on who can manage an ABLE account. The Treasury Department has issued final regulations for Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) savings and investment programs that included new provisions for who can assist a person with a disability to manage their account and would allow for people other than those serving as Power of Attorney or guardian of property, with specific relationships to the person, to manage the ABLE account for the person. Implementation of these new provisions of the regulations would require a change in the Maryland statute. The Maryland ABLE program is seeking input from people with disabilities, family members, and service providers before moving forward with how we may implement these new classifications of account managers for people over the age of eighteen. We value your input and invite you to share your thoughts by participating in one of the virtual focus groups:
