For young adults with disabilities, figuring out a future career path can be challenging. You may worry about facing barriers in the workplace or dealing with discrimination. Today, there are more exciting business career opportunities opening up for young adults with disabilities. With a wide variety of roles available and the possibility for remote work or self-employment, many young adults with disabilities could thrive in the world of business. Rocky Mountain ADA Center can help you secure the accommodations you need with your employer, and these tips can guide you through everything from taking college courses to applying for internships.
Why Business?
“Business” encompasses so many different career paths. You could find yourself working in marketing, human resources, technology, sales, or another specialization. Plus, with countless companies today hiring remote workers, you might even be able to tackle your responsibilities from home with a flexible schedule, which is often a perk for people with disabilities.
Earning Your Degree
Earning a degree can pave the way to a successful career in the business world. For many students with disabilities, attending college classes online is preferable due to the flexibility that these programs allow. Remember, even if you choose an online program, you can still request reasonable accommodations, so reach out to your professors or student advisor to discuss the accommodations you need.
If you’re curious about the prospect of running your own consulting business one day, you could also look into degrees that will teach you useful skills for entrepreneurship. For instance, if you’re interested in technology, you could earn an online degree in Information Technology. Through a program like this, you can learn all about the IT sector, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Alternatively, you could consider enrolling in a potentially lucrative degree program for supply management to open up doors in supply chain and logistics consulting, or a bachelor’s finance to become an independent financial advisor.
Landing Your First Internship
Getting your foot through the door for your very first internship can be tough! Intuit suggests sending out your first applications five to six months before you hope to officially start the internship and tailoring your resume and cover letter for each position.
Employers often get nervous about providing accommodations and ensuring ADA compliance, assuming that this task will be more complicated than it really is. To request an accommodation, the Job Accommodation network recommends writing a letter to your employer outlining your necessary accommodations and the information your employer will need to fulfill these requests.
Finding Your First Job
How can you advance from intern to employee? TopResume recommends seeking out a workplace mentor, taking on new responsibilities at work, and keeping in touch with your manager for a positive reference.
You may want to continue working with the same employer because they understand your accommodations, or you might be interested in applying to other companies to expand your horizons. Whether you intend to stay at the same employer you worked for as an intern or apply to somewhere new, it’s a good idea to research the company’s health insurance benefits — you want to make sure that they will cover your healthcare needs at a reasonable cost.
If you have a disability, choosing the right career path can be difficult. But if you explore your business career options, you’re likely to find a role that is a good fit for you. With these tips, you’ll be on your way to a dream career that could even lead to working for yourself one day!
Do you need help with understanding the different facets of the Americans With Disabilities Act? Rocky Mountain ADA Center provides countless informative resources. Call today at 1-800-949-4232 with your questions.