It is hard enough for anyone to get a job, not to mention someone who has never had a job before. Or worse, a teenager who has never worked before and who has a disability; a double whammy.
Ready, Willing, and Able
For a person with a disability, answering that “scary” question on the application can seem like doomsday. By checking, “Yes, I have a disability,” the odds are that one would not get the job at all. Illegal? Of course, but no way to prove it. Checking “no” means that employment may be secured, but also means there are no accommodations. The employers, employees, and most certainly the customers, will expect top-notch service.
Disclose or Not Disclose
Decisions, decisions. There is no right answer; no passing “go” to collect $200. Unfortunately, unless a disability is disclosed to the employer that person will not have any rights under the American Disabilities Act. Employers cannot “reasonably accommodate” an employee if they are not aware of the disability in the first place. While laws vary depending on which state you live in, there is one fact that remains the same. A person is not required by law to disclose a disability to an employer.
On one hand, if a disability is disclosed one may be subjected to ridicule and harassment by other employees. On the flip side, not mentioning a disability runs the risk of being written-up or fired for unsuccessful completion of a task. There are laws that protect against workplace harassment, but the reality is, reporting any type of harassment opens an employee up to more harassment.
I recommend that anyone with a disability needing employment be true to themselves and the company. It is important to communicate any physical or cognitive restrictions to the manager. While it does not happen often, people who have a disability should also be careful not to take advantage of any accommodations or support.
For Hire
To have the opportunity to earn a living wage, these young “exceptional” adults sometimes end up doing all the grunt work. But they love to earn money and want to feel needed. It provides encouragement and builds life skills. That motivation is all they need to become one of the best employees hired.
C.C. Malloy lives in Fort Worth and works as a freelance writer and an advocate for special needs children and teenagers. Comment below if you have questions about this article or would like to learn more about how to support your teenager’s transition to college.
Article was original published on January 21, 2015 in ‘A Special World” blog for Carolina Parent Magazine. Article was edited to adjust for publication locality.
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