The Basics

The biggest key to being independent is getting a job. Health care and cash benefits are important factors that can help you lead an independent life. But when you’re employed, the money you earn combined with disability income you may be eligible for can help you take better care of yourself and your family. A career also gives you more choices about how you want to live and how you want your life to be in the future.

Disability benefits have rules so that you can find a job and work, while still getting health or cash benefits. Other rules mean that you might not have to reapply for benefits if you need them in the future. You can read more about those rules in the DB101 article on Getting Past The Myths.

In this article, we are going to talk about the laws that protect you when you are looking for a job or after you get one, so that you can have an equal opportunity for career success. The most important of these laws is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA and a state law called the Alaska Human Rights Law make it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities.

We will explain the legal responsibilities of employers who interview and hire people with disabilities, focusing on the job supports and reasonable accommodations that can allow you to enjoy the same benefits of having a job that employees without disabilities can get. Job supports and reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the hiring process, job functions, or the work environment that make it possible for qualified job seekers or employees with disabilities to get equal access to a job and its benefits.

We will look at how to get a reasonable accommodation, including how to disclose your disability so that you can get an appropriate accommodation. This article also explores the different types of reasonable accommodations and other job supports that may help you be successful at your job and keep it, even as your needs change.