by Jerry Mooney

After becoming disabled, you will often not only want but need to get back to work. Whether you're determined to feel useful and productive, you want to avoid isolation or you just need to have a steady income, looking for a job can help you to find what you need. However, actually securing a job isn't so easy, and finding one that you're happy with can be even more difficult. If you're ready to get back to work, you need to know how to get the most from your job hunt. Here are some tips that might help you to find your way back into the workplace.

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Know Your Rights

Before you look for work, it's important to know what rights and protections you are entitled to under the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act protect you from discrimination in employment. The ADA covers companies that have 15 or more employees, so smaller businesses are not required to follow the rules that it sets out. It also applies to state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor organizations. Under the ADA, employers need to make accommodations for their employees, providing reasonable adjustments to help them do their work.

Retrain

If you have recently become disabled, you might be unable to continue in the line of work that you were in before. When this happens, considering the option of retraining is a smart idea. You can often get assistance with the cost of retraining, particularly if you have a disability insurance policy. Darras Law is just one of the firms that could help you to ensure your insurance provider pays you the money that you deserve. It can sometimes be a struggle to get them to pay out, but with the right support, you can make sure you're able to pay for any retraining that you might require.

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Get Support

There are several ways you might get support while you're looking for work. You can find organizations and charities that specialize in providing assistance to disabled people who are looking to get back into work, as well as supporting them while they're working too. For example, AbilityOne provides job training and job opportunities, and is also partnered with National Industries for the Blind and SourceAmerica. You might also benefit from the resources offered by general employment organizations, such as American Job Centers.

Look for a Supportive Employer

While many employers are required by law to do certain things for disabled employees, it doesn't mean that all employers are going to be supportive or sensitive. If you want to find a supportive employer, it can help to use specialist resources to look for a job. These include sites like abilityJOBS, disabledperson.com and Getting Hired. These resources can help to match you up with disability-friendly employers and jobs, where employers are openly and actively seeking to hire disabled people.

Getting back into work after becoming disabled can be hard, but there are resources out there to help you. With the right support, you can find the right position for you.

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