Perfectly Able: How to Attract and Hire Talented People with Disabilities

273 Pages·2010·3.46 MB·English

by  Lighthouse International, Jim Hasse

h
“Perfectly Able: How to Attract and Hire Talented People
with Disabilities is full of insight and practical help for
both job applicants and employers [that] is utterly
compelling and convincing. This book is a wonderful
example of putting into practice the idea that dignity
is a universal right, applicable to both sides of every
hiring decision. Every employer in the world should
have a copy on his desk.”
—ROBERT W. FULLER
formerpresidentofOberlinCollege
andauthorofSomebodiesandNobodies:
OvercomingtheAbuseofRank and
AllRise:Somebodies,Nobodies
andthePoliticsofDignity
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Perfectly
Able
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Perfectly
Able
How to Attract and Hire Talented People
with Disabilities
Lighthouse International
Compiled and Edited by Jim Hasse
American Management Association
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Perfectlyable:howtoattractandhiretalentedpeoplewithdisabilities/com-
piledandeditedbyJimHasse.
p.cm.
Includesindex.
ISBN-13:978-0-8144-1564-1(hardcover)
ISBN-10:0-8144-1564-4(hardcover)
1. Peoplewithdisabilities—Employment—UnitedStates.2. Employees—
Recruiting—UnitedStates.3. Corporateculture—UnitedStates. I.Hasse,Jim.
HD7256.U5P3982011
658.3’11087—dc22
2010014281
©2011LighthouseInternational
Allrightsreserved.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
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AmericanManagementAssociation(www.amanet.org)isaworldleaderintalent
development,advancingtheskillsofindividualstodrivebusinesssuccess.Ourmission
istosupportthegoalsofindividualsandorganizationsthroughacompleterangeof
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Printingnumber
10987654321
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Contents
Foreword:
Roads More Easily Traveled xi
Preface:
An Opportunity—Not a Responsibility xv
Acknowledgments xix
Chapter 1:
Gain a Better Awareness of Disability 1
, How Inclusive Recruiting Will Help You Prepare for
Coming Changes in the Employment Landscape 1
, Why Your Diversity Initiative Needs to Include
Disability 8
, How to Choose the Right Disability Awareness Trainer
for Your Company 11
, The Right to Self-Determination for Individuals with a
Disability in Today’s Workplace 13
, How Individuals with a Disability Define Inclusion 19
, The Role of Maturity and Self-Esteem in an Individual’s
Approach to Disability 22
, How Learning to Live Well with a Disability Can Have
an Upside 26
vii
viii
Contents
Chapter 2:
Foster a Company Culture That Is Receptive to
Disability 33
, Put Your Diversity Values into Practice 33
, Create a Work Environment That Values Diversity 36
, Workplace Interdependence Makes Disability
Irrelevant 41
, Bridge Builders Can Be Valuable to Your Corporate
Culture 45
, Job Seekers with a Disability Can Add Elasticity to Your
Workforce 51
, How You’ll Know Your Inclusion Efforts Are
Working 55
Chapter 3:
MakeYour Recruiting Efforts Disability Inclusive 63
, Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring Employees
with Disabilities 63
, What You as an Employer Need to Know About Current
Interpretations of the ADA 67
, Considering Volunteer Experience May Be Essential
in Fully Evaluating a Job Candidate 80
, Not All Volunteer Work Is the Same When Evaluating
a Job Candidate 85
, How to Locate Job Candidates with Disabilities on the
Local Level 89
, Using Job Fairs to Recruit Candidates with a
Disability 92
, Locating Job Candidates with Disabilities Online 98
, Recruiting Qualified Job Candidates with Disabilities on
College Campuses 104
, How to Make Your Screening Process Inclusive 110
ix
Contents
, Four Barriers Job Candidates with a Disability
Encounter When They Interview for a Job 114
Chapter 4:
Identify Job Candidates Who Will Thrive inYour
Corporate Culture 121
, Job Candidates Who Approach Employment from an
Entrepreneurial Perspective 121
, Job Seekers Who Are Successfully Operating Small
Businesses 123
, People Who Have Moved Beyond Self-Absorption to
Become Fully Engaged Members of Society 127
, Individuals Who Take Personal Responsibility When
They Become “Easy Marks” While at Work 131
, How to Identify Individuals with Emotional
Intelligence 137
, Job Candidates Who Can Gracefully Accept and Decline
Help 142
, Individuals Who Can Carry Their Load as Members of
Your Team 145
, Job Seekers Who Possess the Authenticity Valued in the
Business World 150
, Targeting Candidates Who Are Willing to Take
Reasonable Risks 155
Chapter 5:
Approach People Management from a Disability
Perspective 163
, How Self-Esteem Affects Workplace Performance and
Behavior 163
, Avoiding Paternalism in the Workplace 170
, Assigning a Mentor for Your Newly Hired Employee
with a Disability 177