Looking for a Job While Living With a Disability? Know Your Best Options

Looking for a job while dealing with a disability certainly can present a few extra challenges, like being able to do the job role, convincing an employer you’ll be a valuable member of the workforce, and so on. While certain job positions might be off the table depending on your abilities, experience, and any restrictions your disability places on you, there are actually many job opportunities out there for disabled job seekers.

Another important thing to note is that these days, a lot more focus and attention has been placed on creating diversity in the workplace, which includes employers hiring people of all ages, from different cultures, and people with disabilities. There is a far greater understanding of the subject now and more and more employers respect the value that a person with a disability can bring to the team.

This article isn’t going to focus on what you can do to get yourself “job-ready”, but more about what jobs for people with disabilities are available; what job roles, industries, and careers you might want to target. There are numerous opportunities out there and employers willing to give people a go.

Consider a Career In IT and Technology

This is an industry that’s quite diverse when it comes to possible jobs and career paths. Whether you want to work on an IT support desk, become a software programmer, video game designer, IT technician, a web developer, computer systems analyst, data security, network, and systems administrator or so many more interesting and challenging job roles.

Targeting this industry is a great idea as IT and technology are only going to continue to grow, meaning more job prospects, career advancement opportunities, and higher salaries.

How About a Career In Finance?

This is another industry that’s not likely to see any kind of downturn anytime soon. The world revolves around money and financial matters and there are numerous career paths to target in the finance sector.

You could be a bookkeeper, become a qualified accountant, be a financial advisor, work in a bank or for a private lender, help people develop their investment portfolios, and much more. It really depends on what you feel most comfortable doing, whether you have (or plan to acquire) qualifications in accounting, and what experience you may currently have.

Depending on the career path you take, a position in finance can be a lucrative choice and something that many people living with disabilities target.

Working With Other People Living With a Disability

Who is going to be in a better position to assist people living with a disability than somebody who lives that life themselves?

You have a few options here. You could commence a career as a disability support worker or even become a counsellor. There are areas you can specialise with the latter, as you could specialise in career counselling, for instance.

No matter what job role you undertake, nobody will have a greater understanding of the challenges that face someone living with a disability, than another person in the same situation. You’ll be able to make a huge difference in the lives of others.

Medical Administration Positions

You don’t have to have a lot of mobility for a job role in medical administration and there are quite a lot of job opportunities out there in hospitals and private practices. It’s basically handling paperwork, taking phone calls, liaising with patients at the front desk, coordinating things, and keeping everything organised.

You will generally be quite busy in this position, so the job won’t get boring at all and you’ll build relationships with both patients and medical staff alike.

Work For a Legal Firm

You don’t necessarily have to be a lawyer to work at a law firm. You could work on the front desk, operate as a legal assistant, train to become a paralegal, work as a legal secretary, and so on. There are a number of opportunities in the law field and there’s also a chance to earn a good income.

The Wrap

This article has highlighted just a few industries and jobs you could target. There are many opportunities out there for job seekers with disabilities, so never believe it’s impossible when the opposite is true.