Jobs for People with Disabilities: How to Choose the Best One for You

Make job searching less tedious with these tips to highlight your skills and experience.

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

According to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, one in five working-age Americans suffers from some kind of disability. Of those, KPMG research estimated that 17% were born with their disability, while the other 83% acquired their condition later in life.

And while more and more companies are making it a priority to offer jobs for people with disabilities, there is still to be done to make things accessible and equal for everyone. If you belong to this category, you’ll certainly know the unique set of challenges that can make the job search and interview process complex.

In this article we help you to:

  • understand your rights as a worker with a disability
  • increase your call-backs to interview
  • find good jobs for disabled people that you may not have considered

Types of Disabilities at Work

The Americans with Disabilities Act legally defines a disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities”. There are therefore, many types of disabilities. Some are visible, others are invisible. The most common ones fall within one of the following categories:

Blindness and Low Vision

It is estimated that around 2 million working-age Americans suffer from a visual impairment. Being nearly or totally blind is what many people think of. However, any person with a visual inability to carry out activities normally belongs to this category. Some of the most common conditions include:

  • color blindness
  • glaucoma
  • macular degeneration

Deafness and Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be age-related, but it’s also caused by many conditions and life occurrences or it could be congenital. Any trouble hearing speech, sounds or background noises that cause difficulty in communication or understanding, is included in this category.

Physical disability

Physical impairment implies the limitation of a person’s mobility. It could be either temporary or permanent. Causes span from genetics to illness, to accidents and surgeries. A physical disability may present as trouble moving, maintaining balance, or even standing, among other things

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity refers to the different spectrum of ways people communicate, learn, and behave in work and social settings. The neurodivergent population includes people with developmental disorders such as:

  • autism
  • Tourette syndrome
  • learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dyscalculia
  • attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Although being “atypical” means they might struggle with certain activities and situations, neurodivergent people often have a unique set of skills that they can leverage in many jobs. For people with disabilities, for example, creativity and problem-solving can sometimes come easier.

Mental Illnesses and Other Invisible Disabilities

Mental illnesses and non-apparent disabilities are by far the majority of conditions out there, yet they are still often brushed off or stigmatized. There are various jobs for people with disabilities such as the following, in which they can express their talents:

  • anxiety disorder
  • depression
  • bipolar disorder
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • arthritis
  • lupus

What Are Your Rights?

Knowing your disability rights when it comes to getting hired or performing your job successfully is crucial to making sure you’re treated fairly. To begin with, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) condemns as unlawful any discrimination against disability, ultimately protecting and promoting access to jobs for people with disabilities. In particular it establishes that:

  • You’re not legally bound to disclose your disability to your employer at any point. However, if you choose to, you’re protected. In fact, you can’t be fired later on for not revealing that you have an impairment.
  • Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for your condition during the hiring process and once you are hired. This means that you are within your rights to request changes to the interview process or the work environment so that they can be accessible to you as long as this is reasonable for the business.
  • Although certain loopholes exist, companies can’t ask you directly disability-related questions such as “do you have a disability?”. If you decide to disclose your condition, they’re only allowed to enquire if you can perform essential parts of For people with disabilities this is an extra layer of protection.

How to Apply to Jobs for Disabled People

You should continue to employ general resume writing tips when applying to people with disabilities. Jobs you apply to expect that:

1. Your Resume Is Concise, Error-Free, and Easy to Read

Both a human and any Applicant Tracking System (ATS) must be able to scan your resume easily. Use our free resume templates to help you get started and ask a friend to double-check it for you before sending it in.

2. You Put the Spotlight on Your Qualifications and Skills

You should cherry-pick from your profile the skills and experiences that match what is required in the job posting. Focus on your strongest skills and present them clearly.

3. You Use Metrics to Quantify Your Achievements

Numbers are your best friend when apply to jobs for people with disabilities. They show companies what you can do for them in a concrete way.

There are some additional tips to consider useful to increase your resume when applying for jobs for people on disability:

A. Don’t Mention Your Disability in Your Resume

Although it is your choice as to when to disclose an impairment, waiting till later in the hiring process may help prevent unconscious bias and let your talent shine through. If you need to ask for reasonable accommodations for the interview, ask the recruiters once you have a clear invitation.

B. Don’t Leave Employment Gaps in Your Resume

If your disability forced you to take time out of the job market, don’t skip this from your employment history. Recruiters will either ask you directly about later or interpret gaps as red flags. Instead, frame them with clear dates as “Illness and Recovery”.

The Best Jobs for People on Disability

While you can of course pursue any role that you have the knowledge and skills for, your unique abilities might mean that you’ll enjoy and be more successful in certain positions. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Pet Sitting

Pet sitting can be one of the best jobs for people with disabilities. It’s flexible but can also be a full-time business that requires minimal interaction with people. Communication with pet owners can be carried out in writing or through lip reading if necessary. You get to walk with dogs, cuddle cats, take care of and connect with all sorts of animals, while their owners are busy.

Find pet sitting jobs on Monster

2. Horticulturist

The horticultural industry offers many opportunities for jobs for disabled people. These roles are great for those that enjoy routine and can work independently. Working outdoors and reaping, quite literally, the fruits of your labor are two other additional benefits.

Find horticulture jobs on Monster

3. Retail Stocker

Working as a retail stocker or library reshelver are great entry-level jobs for people with disabilities. You are required to have a lot of organization, reading skills and visual memory, but the job won’t involve much or any listening and speaking. Plus, it’s generally a slow-paced environment.

Find retail stocker jobs on Monster

4. Massage Therapist

If you like to work with your hands, follow clear instructions and are ok with some social interaction, becoming a massage therapist can be one of the best jobs for people with learning disabilities.

Find massage therapist jobs on Monster

5. Warehouse, Factory, and Fast Food Workers

Looking for a low-contact, organized, and repetitive environment? If you’re also gifted with great attention to detail, working in warehouses, factories or fast-food restaurants might be a good choice for you.

Find warehouse jobs on Monster

6. Data Entry

In this job, you’re responsible for entering data into spreadsheets or databases. It’s an example of easy jobs for disabled adults who enjoy working on a computer, plenty of repetition, no surprises and a quiet environment.

Find data entry jobs on Monster

7. Customer Service Representative

Customer service is one of those fields that includes various jobs for people with disabilities. You can work in online chat support, call centers, and often also entirely remotely, so you don’t have to face the challenges of going to an office.

Find customer service rep jobs on Monster

8. Software Developer

Software developers often carry out short-term projects, which can be perfect for those that struggle with monotony. It’s also a sedentary and computer-based role. On top of that, it requires a good understanding of complex processes, thinking outside the box, and working independently.

Find software developer jobs on Monster

9. Graphic Designer

Are you creative, with an eye for detail and prefer to work autonomously? As a graphic designer, you’ll create visual concepts and assets for websites, brands, and advertisements.

Find graphic designer jobs on Monster

10. Writer or Copy Editor

Being a writer or a copy editor is great if you enjoy work that is creative, varied and solitary most of the time. As with many other options we’ve listed, you can also perform these roles entirely from home and enjoy a flexible schedule in many cases.

Find copy editor jobs on Monster

11. Government Jobs for Disabled Adults

If you think that having a disability can prevent you from finding a role in the government, think again. They offer jobs for people with disabilities in every field and for every educational background.

The Federal Government is one of the leading employers of individuals with disabilities and it continuously works on its recruitment, hiring and retention processes to keep growing its workforce diversity. One of its most helpful resources is Schedule A, a non-competitive hiring process designed to adapt to different candidates with different needs.

Find government jobs on Monster

Explore Jobs for People with Disabilities with Help From Monster

Find the right fit for your skills By setting up a free candidate account and uploading your resume on Monster today. Activate custom alerts and we’ll send you new job postings matching your profile. Plus, our partner recruiters and companies will be able to contact you directly with exciting opportunities matching your skillset.