resources for employers and supervisors 
There are many resources available to help educate employers regarding disability
issues, accommodations, and laws. Some basic information for employers is
detailed below. Visit the Web site resources detailed at the bottom of the
page for comprehensive and up-to-date laws, practices, and tools.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( ADA ) makes it unlawful to discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability in employment. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides detailed information about the law, regulations, and enforcement. The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate in all employment-related activities. This includes: recruitment, pay, hiring, firing, promotion, job assignments, training, leave, lay-off, benefits, and all other employment-related activities.
In order to be protected by the ADA , an individual with a disability must satisfy qualifications that are job related (such as educational background, employment experience, skills, licenses) and be able to perform the tasks that are essential to the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Employers still have the right to hire the best candidate for a job; the ADA simply protects qualified applicants or employees from discrimination.
Accommodations
As part of the ADA , employers are required to make reasonable accommodations to the known disability of qualified applicants or employees. Once an employee discloses a disability or requests accommodations, the employer and applicant/employee should work together to determine appropriate accommodations. The Job Accommodation Network can help provide accommodation solutions.
Recruiting Candidates with Disabilities
There are a few things employers can do to attract and recruit applicants with disabilities:
- Add a statement, to recruitment materials, detailing an interest in receiving applications from a diversity of people, including those with disabilities,
- Disseminate job openings and announcements in settings that is marketing specifically to people with disabilities. The Careers and the Disabled magazine is one such venue.
- Attend a career fair or similar event that is focused on connecting employers with applicants from diverse backgrounds. The UNH Diversity Networking Luncheon is one such opportunity at UNH.
Employer Resources
Earnworks.com: The Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN) is a free service that connects employers looking for quality employees with skilled job candidates. The EARN Web site provides information about recruiting services, employer success stories, the business case for hiring people with disabilities, and other resources.
Ada.gov: Information and assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Job Accomodation Network: JAN is a free consulting service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy. It is designed to increase the the employability of people with disabilities by: providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and educating callers about self-employment options.
A Primer for Small Business: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides this handbook about the Americans with Disabilities Act for small businesses.
