After a medical event like an injury or an illness, there may be many factors that affect your ability to return to work. Some people are able to return to the same job when their short-term disability or medical leave runs out, and others need more time. It’s important to put your health and wellness first as much as you can. If you’re adjusting to a new disability, you may need to request some accommodations from your employer or find a new position altogether.
Navigating this type of career change isn’t something most people can do alone. You have some legal protections as a newly disabled employee, and there are resources to help you. It’s worth finding an employment training program or an employment services expert who’s familiar with the territory. It will save you a lot of time and stress so you can focus your energy on healing.
The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is about twice the rate for those without. With some personalized support and the right accommodations, more people with disabilities can provide for themselves and their families.
This article describes how employment training programs can help you re-envision your career goals and start to pursue them after a serious injury or illness.
What can I expect from a disability employment training program?
A great disability employment training program should help you determine your new needs in the workplace and how to meet them. It may provide personalized training on specific job tasks or using assistive technology.
Patients receiving medical rehabilitation at Ability KC work one-on-one with Return-to-Work Navigators. These specialists help patients remove barriers to achieve their career goals sooner. They coordinate with other organizations to connect patients with the right resources for long-term and continued success.
How can an employment training program support me after an injury or illness?
A serious illness or injury isn’t something most people can prepare for. You may have a lower capacity to work than before, or you may not be able to do things in the same way. But There are resources and services that can help you adapt — or adapt the workplace to meet your needs.
Look for the following features and benefits in a disability employment training program:
- Get support communicating with your employer — The Return-to-Work Navigators will assist you in determining what and how much to disclose to your employer about your situation. Employment services can help you ask for what you need and maintain a high professional standard throughout the process.
- Learn what accommodations may be helpful and how to ask for them — The Return-to-Work Navigators will work with you to identify accommodations that will assist with successful completion of your job functions. They will also assist you in requesting the accommodations and work with your employer to implement them.
- Identify employment opportunities compatible with your current functional abilities — If you are unable to return to your current position, the Return-to-Work Navigators can facilitate communication with your employer to identify an alternate role for you. If working with your current employer is not an option, our Employment Services specialists can assist you in finding other employment opportunities.
- Learn to use assistive technology and equipment — There may be technology available to assist you with successful completion of your essential job functions. Ability KC’s Adaptive Computer and Communication Technology (ACCT) program will evaluate your specific needs for your job, recommend appropriate technology or equipment, and provide training for successful implementation at work.
- Get help from a community job skills trainer — You may be able to return to your job or start a new position with the help of on-site job support. A community job skills trainer can provide recommendations for strategies, modifications and/or accommodations to assist with your success.
- Achieve your career goals — Ability KC’s Return-to-Work Navigators and Employment Services specialists can assist you in modifying your goals or identifying new career goals to achieve meaningful success.
- Thrive in your workplace and your community — We want all of our patients to find jobs they love in workplaces where they can thrive. Our Return-to-Work Navigators help people move forward in careers that align with their passions and values.
For employers: Provide adequate support for employees returning to work
We love collaborating with employers who want to create truly equitable experiences for employees with disabilities. Did you know you can work directly with our staff to meet your production needs by providing jobs to people with disabilities? Ability KC Industries has partnered with local companies to meet their business needs for over 50 years. In the process, we’ve helped hundreds of adults with disabilities connect with a sense of community, lifelong relationships and meaningful employment.
Learn more about disability employment services at Ability KC
Employment services are just one aspect of the comprehensive rehab experiences we provide. Each person who comes to Ability KC gets a highly individualized treatment plan that incorporates multiple therapies to meet their goals. Our goal is for patients to leave our day rehab program with new skills, resources and a clear plan for total wellness.
We’ve worked hard to meet the highest standards for rehab facilities. Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) and has Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.
Are you looking for a rehab facility that can help you get where you want to be? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.