Who can help?

Getting a job takes work.

But the good news is - there are lots of people who can help you:

  • Personal connections like your family-members and friends
  • There are different kinds of employment professionals, and each one can help you to make sure you find your new job!
    • Job Developers help connect with businesses in the community. They help find jobs that are hiring. They often help businesses understand why it is a good idea to hire people who have disabilities. They may help you with your resume, applications, and interviews.
    • Job Coaches focus on helping you learn work skills, and they help with on the job training. Job Coaches should get to know the way you learn best, and they should help your boss and coworkers learn to work with you so that everyone does a good job.
    • Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselors help people with disabilities live and work in the community. VR Counselors work with employment professionals (providers) in the community and should work with you so you can CHOOSE the best fit for you.
      For more information about how VR counselor can help you plan, prepare, and find the supports you need, please visit Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Guide to Transition Services.
    • A Service and Support Administrator (SSA) is a person who often works through your county board of DD and makes sure you are receiving all of the services you need to work and live independently. If you are registered with your board of DD, you probably have a service and support administrator. Here is a list of questions that may be helpful to ask your service and support administrator. Some counties do not provide service and support administrator.

Build your “Job Search” team.

Build a team of people who can support you in your job search. It is good to have people on your team who know you well AND people who know a lot about jobs and how to get one.

Taking Action on Your Path: Build Your Job Search Team

Illustration showing four people linked to a person in the center. Two individuals are pointing at floating digital interface windows, one person holding a clipboard and another with a child.

Connect with family, friends, teachers, and professional counselors to support your search.

Activity

Tell your family and people you know that you want a job. Ask them if they can help - or if they know someone who can. Set up a meeting, in-person - or on zoom, to get their ideas about how to get your job search started.

  • Make a list of 5 people who can help you find a job.
  • Start the Conversation: meet with them as a group, in-person, or on zoom.
  • Share your worksheets and your ideas with them.

Taking Action on Your Path: Start the Conversation

Illustration of a business meeting with five people seated around a table and one person standing, presenting data on a flip chart featuring a profile icon and a red bar graph. Speech bubbles above seated individuals show a megaphone and a handshake.

Set a meeting with your team to share your goals and explore next steps.

Why We Work

Advocates with disabilities cover the personal, social, and economic reasons behind employment and why people work. They highlight how work provides independence, purpose, inclusion, and financial stability. The video features real stories, show how inclusive workplaces empower individuals, and challenge common stereotypes by emphasizing ability over disability.

Video: Why We Work

Let’s get to work!