NYC initiatives level the field
Unfortunately, many with viable talent are currently on the bench. According to the Department of Labor, in 2020, only 17.9 percent of people with a disability are employed. This untapped talent pool encompasses people eager and ready to work, like Ryan Lowry, a 20-year-old student with autism whose heartfelt cover letter on LinkedIn went viral.
There are NYC organizations aiming to redress that.
Martha Jackson, assistant commissioner of employment and business development at the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities, points to their site, NYC: ATWORK, which connects job seekers with disabilities to open positions.
“The roster of talent is remarkable — it’s the largest untapped talent pipeline not just in the city, but also in the US,” said Jackson. “We empower individuals to get jobs that they have the ability, skills and goals for. Businesses say, ‘We don’t know where to get the talent.’ But, we do.”
Job seekers outline career goals with a relationship manager through resume sessions, interviews and workshops with topics such as how to present yourself virtually to time management.
AHRC New York City also offers employment services for New Yorkers with disabilities.
Their outreach ranges from job coaching to interview prep to job shadowing.
Shauna Lozada, director of corporate partnerships and business development at AHRC New York City, builds relationships with employers — often, applicants don’t go through the traditional interview process. “We apply together,” Lozada said.
Job seekers work with a coach which includes job shadowing for a few weeks after the job begins. “If the job is at McDonald’s, the job coach wears a uniform and integrates with the work site. If McDonald’s said, ‘We need you to stock 20 boxes by noon,’ the job coach helps that person come up with a strategy on how to do that.”
Job Path also helps New
Yorkers with disabilities find jobs, connecting participants to trained staff. Often, they’ll create a visual resume of photos or videos showcasing the candidate’s skills.
“It’s a video of someone making a smoothie, but watching how they cut fruit can be embedded into that visual resume,” said Fredda Rosen, executive director of Job Path.
Job Path works alongside the person for at least two weeks after starting the new position.
“Every time someone gets a job, it’s a celebration,” said Rosen. “Work means so much to all of us. People with developmental disabilities often don’t have the opportunity to interact, but in the workplace, everyone’s on the same team.”