Get Hired With a Disability

Helping People With Vision Loss, Hearing Loss and Speech Impairments Get Hired in Jobs That They Love and That Pays Them What They Deserve by Pushing Past Their Limiting Beliefs, Understanding the Value That Their Lived Experience Can Bring to an Organization, and Harnessing Key Recruitment Strategies.

Who Am I?

When I was 21, I started losing my eyesight unexpectedly due to a rare condition called Stargardt Disease. Unfortunately, my eyesight continued to worsen over the years that followed and I ended up getting fired from my marketing job because I was making too many mistakes. At the time I thought that I would never be able to work again and felt extremely lost, helpless, and alone.

Luckily, I was introduced to a lady named Cassie about six months after losing my job. Cassie told me that she had the same eye condition as me, and that she was legally blind and still able to have a fulfilling career. My conversation with Cassie had completely changed my life! I decided to stop making excuses for myself and started learning about assistive technologies and support services that can help people with disabilities. Then, I worked on my resume, started networking, and learnt strategies that can be used to share your disability with an employer.

Due to my new recruitment strategies and self-advocacy skills I managed to get hired as a rock climbing instructor, a job that many people said would be impossible to do with low vision. I then decided that I wanted to have a more meaningful impact on people’s lives and got a job as a disability employment consultant.

For the past three years I’ve had the privilege of helping other people with disabilities push past their limiting beliefs and get their dream jobs. I’ve also consulted councils and advocacy groups about how to make their workplace and the community more inclusive for people with disabilities.

I love being able to help other people who have experienced the challenges that I have gone through. There is truly no better feeling than witnessing someone become empowered and start living the life that they’ve always dreamed of!

Credentials:

  • Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Marketing Communications & Advertising
  • Bachelor of Arts Majoring in English Literature

About My Program

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Who It Is For?

I work with people who have vision loss, hearing loss, and/or speech impairments and face difficulty in getting a job or getting promoted due to this condition. They are anxious and stressed and don’t know how to prepare for an interview. They are not aware of the technologies and services that exist which can help them in their workplace. These people are challenged about what jobs will suit them and how create a strong job application or prepare for an interview. They also have no clarity about when to share their disability with a potential or existing employer.

By working with Sarlie, they will understand and get clarity on where they are with their impairment and what roles suit them with their disability and their passions, interests, education, and experience. They will also know about the services and technologies that exist which can help them do their job properly. They shall get access to all tools for their job search along with building the right resume and cover letter, while building confidence to face interviews and manage their stress and anxiety. They will also know when and how to approach their new or existing employer about their condition so as not to ruin their chances of getting that job or promotion.

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Who It Is Not For?

• People with disabilities who are already in fulfilling and well-paid jobs.
• People with disabilities who are content and supported in their current jobs.
• People with disability who are NOT looking for a job.
• People with disabilities who are not willing to put in a sincere effort in their search for a job.

Module One

Break Free From Self Doubt

Outcome

  • Gaining more direction and focus.
  • Knowing the value that you bring to an organization due to your lived experience with a disability.
  • Increased confidence.
  • Start perceiving your disability as being an advantage, rather than a disadvantage, when it comes to finding work.

Description

Has your disability impacted your ability to find meaningful work? Do you feel stressed, anxious or overwhelmed about the prospect of reentering the workforce? Perhaps you are lacking in confidence because you’ve had negative experiences with employers in the past?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, many people with disabilities feel this way when they are searching for employment. If you would like to feel empowered and understand how your lived experience with a disability can actually be an advantage when it comes to getting hired in a job that you love, then I can help you!

Module Two

Career Planning

Outcome

  • Knowing what jobs to start applying for.
  • Feeling motivated, excited and energized about your career prospects.

Description

A lot of people aren’t sure what jobs they can do due to their disability. Though it may seem as though you can’t work in the job or industry that you want to, you may be surprised! Nowadays, people with disabilities are able to work in all sorts of amazing jobs. Just look at Jack Chen who is completely blind and works as a lawyer for Google, and Nyle DiMarco, a deaf model, actor and author, if you need a bit of inspiration!

If you would like to discover your perfect job and start living the life of your dreams then look no further!

Module Three

Sharing Your Disability With Employers

Outcome

  • Know when to share your disability with an employer.
  • Understand the “do’s” and “don’ts” when it comes to disclosing your disability with an employer.
  • Create a strong disclosure statement.
  • Feel confident about discussing your disability with an employer.
  • Know how to speak to employers about your disability so that it doesn’t jeopardize your chances of getting hired.

Description

Do you feel nervous about sharing your disability with an employer? Have you been told that you wouldn’t be suitable for a job just after the hiring manager discovered that you have a medical condition? Unfortunately, many people with disabilities experience these problems and it can be a major barrier to finding meaningful work and very disheartening too.

Employers and hiring managers come with different perceptions towards hiring people with a condition. So come, let’s find out how to tackle different mindsets & opinions and when to share your disability with your employer.

Module Four

Where to Find Your Perfect Job

Outcome

  • Know how to use job searching websites.
  • Have created a LinkedIn profile and Seek profile that attracts recruiters.

Description

Even when you know what industry you would like to work in, it can still be tricky to find a suitable job. It can be even harder to find a company that has a supportive and inclusive workplace that champions the unique skills and lived experiences of people with disabilities.

Know all the strategies that recruiters use (but don’t reveal) to find your perfect job and the things to look out for when it comes to company culture.

Module Five

Create a Killer Job Application

Outcome

  • Know how to complete an online application ( resume, cover letter and short answer questions) that will move past applicant tracking systems and be viewed by the employer/ hiring manager.

Description

Have you applied for dozens or hundreds of jobs and are still unemployed? If so, you need to work on your resume and cover letter!

Many people aren’t aware that applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by approximately 75% of large companies in the US, 66% of large companies in the UK, 80% of large companies in Australia, and 98% of Fortune 500 companies to dispose of the majority of applications before they are even looked at by a person! This means that if you haven’t adjusted your resume and cover letter to ATS then you only have a very small chance of getting an interview and then the job!

If you are sick of wasting hours on job applications that don’t even get an email response and would like recruiters to start contacting you instead, then I can help. And yes, you can still achieve incredible results even if you have no work experience or long gaps in your resume!

Module Six

The Dreaded Online Assessment

Outcome

  • Know the different types of online assessments that you may come across.
  • Understand how to ask for a reasonable adjustment if an online assessment is not accessible, and the types of reasonable adjustments that may be helpful.
  • Know strategies that can be used to complete the online assessments ( If you decide not to disclose your disability).

Description

Online assessments (such as personality or behavioral tests) are something that everybody hates doing. However, these tests are not only long and boring, but they can also be impossible for people with disabilities to complete, as they often lack accessibility features.

In this module, you can break free of stress, worry and confusion that often comes with completing an online assessment and gain clarity about the types of tests that recruiters use, why they use them and how to get the best results possible! You can also gain confidence about what you should do if an online assessment is not accessible for you due to your disability, and the types of reasonable adjustments that can be made.

Module Seven

Types of Employment Support

Outcome

  • Know what types of assistive technology and services may be useful for your desired role.
  • Know the not-for-profit companies and other agencies that can provide you with assistance.
  • Have booked appointments with service providers like orientation and mobility specialists and assistive technology specialists, if required.
  • Feel more confident about being able to complete all the tasks for your job role, now that you understand the support that is available.

Description

It can feel daunting to start a new job if you have a disability. You may be wondering if you will be able to complete all aspects of the role, or if you will be able to keep up with everyone else.

Luckily, there are a range of assistive technologies and support services that can help you thrive at any workplace!

Feel empowered about entering the workforce and know that you will not be held back from accomplishing your full potential by gaining a deep understanding of the support services and technologies that suit your individual needs.

Module Eight

Job Interview Skills

Outcome

  • Know how to prepare for a job interview. 
  • Have created answers to common interview questions. 
  • Know the strategies that will help combat my nerves before a job interview.
  • Know what to craft a thank you email to the employer/ hiring manager.

Description

Going to a job interview can be an extremely nerve wracking experience, but it doesn’t have to be!

Feel confident when you go to a job interview, and know what questions you will be asked before you walk into the building or log on to the virtual meeting.

Module Nine

Negotiating Your Salary and Workplace Adjustments

Outcome

  • Understand what salary range I should expect for my job.
  • Know how to negotiate a salary increase.
  • Know how to negotiate other changes to my job role – e.g. the flexibility to work from home.
  • Know what to look for in an employment contract ( e.g. “red flags”).
  • Feel confident in talking to employers about the above negotiations as I have a clear strategy and know what I am worth.

Description

Many people are so excited when they are told that they get the job that they barely even look at their salary or other aspects of the job role before signing the contract.

However, you could be doing yourself a huge disservice by not knowing what salary you’re entitled to and negotiating for your pay to be increased. This is because most recruiters will offer you the lowest wage possible, with the expectation that a negotiation will occur and the salary will be increased and will project that they are doing you a huge favour by offering you the job in spite of your disability.

Ensure that you are getting paid what you deserve, and how to have a conversation about any other adjustments that need to be made in your employment contract in a way that does not feel hostile, confrontational or uncomfortable.

Module Ten

Understanding Your Rights

Outcome

  • Know what your legal rights are / what you are entitled to.
  • Know who to contact if you face descrimination.
  • Know what actions/ steps you should be individually taking as soon as I experience discrimination.

Description

Many people with disabilities feel anxious about returning to the workplace because they have experienced descrimination in the past. Unfortunately, descrimination still does exist and even though it may not be common,it is still important to know what your legal rights are and what you should do if you ever feel as though you are being treated unfairly.

Feel safe in your job by gaining an understanding of what you are entitled to, the steps you can take, and the support you can receive.

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