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Flexible Work for People with Disabilities and Special Needs

Flexible Work for People with Disabilities and Special Needs

Flexible work is an excellent option for parents, careers, or people who have other commitments and need a job that they can work around.

Flexibility is also an essential aspect for those who have disabilities or special needs. Luckily, today more and more companies are offering flexible roles. Working from home has increased since the global pandemic. In the past ten years, a massive 83% of companies have introduced flexible work policies into the workplace. With more hopping on board to do the same, flexible work seems to be the new normal.

Looking for work when you have special needs or a disability can seem daunting. But don’t worry! There are options for you, and companies exist that do not discriminate.

So, let’s take a look at Flexible Work for People with Disabilities and Special Needs…

flexible work for people with disabilities and special needs

Why Work Flexibly?

Nowadays, working flexible hours are desired by employees and employers. There has been a massive increase in flexible working due to the covid pandemic, and many people wouldn’t go back to the way it was before.

A study showed that 72% of people prefer working flexible hours, whether that be from home, a condensed work week, or working remotely from the comfort of their home.

A quarter of the USA is disabled!

More than 61 million adults in the USA are reported to have a disability. That’s a quarter of the US population. This means if employers choose not to employ someone with a disability, they could be excluding a quarter of the population.

Luckily, this is not the case. Companies are hiring people with disabilities more than they ever have in the past. An advocate for this is Randy Lewis. Watch his Ted Talk on Youtube.

Types Of Work

Flexible work is an arrangement between yourself and a company. There are different types of flexible work. These include:

  • Working remotely from home
  • Choosing your start time and finish time
  • Condensed workweeks (working 40 hours in four days instead of five)
  • A mix of working from home and office on your terms
  • Flexitime
  • Part-time
  • Job Share

As you can see, there are many options, and companies are only getting better at the flexible work thing! This is excellent news for you if you’re feeling a little nervous about diving into the job search.

Pros Of Flexible Working

Commuting

Commuting for most people is a bit of a pain. A study showed that commuting for only 30 minutes per day can increase your stress and anxiety levels. If you have a disability, this is an added stress that could be eliminated if you work flexibly.

It may be the reduced hours or starting a little later to miss the rush, but all these flexible choices ultimately make your life easier. It also allows you to be the person you are and not let your disability hold you back.

the flexible work for people with disabilities and special need

Productivity

If working in an office setting is not for you, you can always go down the remote work route. This means working from the comfort of your own home.

Perhaps you’ll even be more productive doing so as you won’t have distractions from other colleagues. A study showed that working only once a week from home could boost productivity levels by 4.8%!

Work-life Balance

Suppose the reality of your life is attending more doctor’s appointments in a month than most people do in a year. Maybe it’s taking copious amounts of medication throughout the day. It might even be daily nurse visits.

Whatever it is, flexible work is guaranteed to give you a better work-life balance. This means you can schedule your appointments and family commitments around your work without leaving the office or slipping out of work meetings.

Cons Of Flexible Work

Socializing

If you are working from home, you may miss out on the social part of work. The daily morning coffee, catching up on the latest TV shows, or even just a friendly morning smile. Working from home at times can be lonely, but if you get yourself into a good routine, you can be successful and happy.

Companies That Hire People With Disabilities

Amazon

Amazon is known to hire employees with disabilities. The options with Amazon are endless. You can choose whether you want an in-store role or work from home! Amazon even allows service dogs on site, which is great for those who have hearing or sight problems. Amazon claims to have an all-inclusive work environment, and they pay a pretty good wage.

Job Roles Include:

  • Delivery Station Warehouse Associate
  • Sortation Center Warehouse Associate
  • Grocery Fresh Associate

the flexible work for people with disabilities and special needs

AT&T

The company is the largest mobile telephone service in the USA. They hire over 230,000 employees and are known to be inclusive to disabled people. Another great benefit with AT&T is the flexibility to work from home. This is great if it’s what you’re looking for.

Job Roles Include:

  • Part-time Retail Sales Consultant
  • Installation Technician
  • Field Sales Representative

Best Buy

Best Buy got top marks on the Disability Equality Index (DEI). What does this mean, you may ask. It means that it is one of the best places to work in the USA if you have a disability. They have excellent mental health resources and encourage their employees to participate in resource groups to improve the experience for disabled staff and customers.

Job Roles Include:

  • General Warehouse Worker
  • Home Delivery Driver
  • Customer Service Manager

Hilton

The hotel chain is an excellent opportunity for those who love interacting with people. The company wants to ensure that its team members represent its guest population. One team in Central America has a team of deaf and hard-of-hearing employees.

They wear t-shirts to show guests why they may take more time to understand them. They had great feedback from their customers for their inclusive attitude. The company also has several work-from-home opportunities if that’s what you’d prefer!

Job Roles Include:

  • Assistant Front Office Manager
  • Telephone Operator
  • Wellness Manager

the flexible work for people with disabilitie and special needs

Ikea

Ikea is a great company for people with disabilities. Why? They allow their disabled employees to choose how many hours they work per week. This is great for flexibility and also for peace of mind if you have something else on.

Job Roles Include:

  • Cafe Team Member
  • Customer Service Advisor
  • Cashier

JPMorgan Chase & CO

Established over 150 years ago, the company now prides itself on its forward-thinking attitude. They believe inclusion is key to keeping the company successful. They also think if people can relate to their employees, more people will buy their products.

The company is very inclusive and has managers trained to ensure employees get everything they need. The company has featured in several news articles regarding disabilities.

Job Roles Include:

  • Application Support
  • Wealth Management Banker
  • Software Engineering

McDonald’s

Fancy a free hamburger on your lunch break? McDonald’s could be the job for you. The company hires people with disabilities throughout the US. They also have technology in stores for employees who need extra assistance.

Job Roles Include:

  • Cashier
  • Drive-thru Cashier
  • Food Preparation Employee

flexible work for the people with disabilitie and special needs

United Airlines

Would you like to work for one of the USA’s biggest airlines? United Airlines operates thousands of flights, both domestic and international. The company received top scores for working with people who have disabilities.

Job Roles Include:

  • Group Air Agent
  • Customer Service Agent
  • International Travel Consultant

UPS

Everyone knows their UPS driver, whether they give your dog a treat or greet you with a morning smile. UPS is highly regarded for employing people with disabilities.

The company has a program funded by the government that allows people to try out different roles before settling into one they like. UPS offers its employees both part-time and full-time jobs.

Job Roles Include:

  • Sales Account Executive
  • Part-time PDS Supervisor
  • Global Privacy Supervisor

Walgreens

The company has been one of the longest-running to create equal work opportunities for people with disabilities. This is down to a man named Randy Lewis. His son has autism and was non-verbal until ten years old. He is now a successful adult, and Lewis pushed the company to hire people with disabilities.

Many companies began to follow Walgreens, which was when the tide started to turn! In fact, 10% of all Walgreens employees have a disability. They have specially designed facilities and training programs to help people who need it and create even more possibilities. The company set out a disability inclusion strategy, this includes:

  • All employees will have the same job expectations
  • Walgreens will pay employees equally for all roles

flexible work for the people with disabilitie and special need

Job Roles Include:

  • Beauty Advisor
  • Pharmacist
  • Customer Service Associate

Walgreens also offers flexible work. Shifts can change, and you can request to work full-time or part-time!

Let’s Help You Ace That Interview!

Firstly, let’s check out my interview advice on how to answer How Do You Handle Stress, What Are You Most Proud Of, Why We Should Hire You, or what about How Would You Describe Yourself, or What Are Your Career Goals, and How To Answer What Are You Passionate About, as well as What Makes You Unique, Why Do You Want To Work Here, my Strengths And Weaknesses For Job Interviews, and finally How Do You Handle Conflict?

If you’re not feeling confident enough yet, then take a look at these insightful guides and handbooks we found online. We’ll start with The STAR Method Explained: Proven Technique to Succeed at Interview and The STAR Interview: How to Tell a Great Story, Nail the Interview and Land Your Dream Job., along with STAR METHOD INTERVIEW: Interview Journal: Designed for job seekers as a guide for interview prep & for interview questions and answers during interviews which will help you prepare and practice using the ever-popular STAR Method.

We also found the Hiring Squirrels: 12 Essential Interview Questions to Uncover Great Retail Sales Talent, the Amazing Interview Answers: 44 Tough Job Interview Questions with 88 Winning Answers, and Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview. Or perhaps you’d like to try the How to Answer Interview Questions: 101 Tough Interview Questions, as well as INTERVIEW with DESIRE and GET HIRED!: How to Ace the Interview, Sell Yourself & Get Your Dream Job all available online in 2023.

Lastly, is the NURSING Behavioral Interview Questions & Answers: 50 Top Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers for Nurses + STAR INTERVIEW METHOD EXPLAINED if you’re interviewing for a care position.

Final Thoughts

Although looking for a job and going through the interview process to employment can be scary for anyone. It’s unfair not to acknowledge that those with a disability are even more disadvantaged.

It can be challenging, but knowing there are companies out there who want to hire you regardless of your disability is a great way to stay hopeful. In today’s society, people are more inclusive than in the past 100 years.

A thriving LGBTQ community, employers standing up for people’s rights, and the push to close the gender pay gap are all happening in today’s current climate. Having a disability should not stop you from getting a job or pursuing your dreams, and with more flexible jobs available, something out there will be just right for you!

All the very best in finding Flexible Work!

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