Job opportunities exist in every industry for people of all abilities. The shift to work from home culture might make it a bit easier for people with developmental disabilities to find a job and excel at it.
But what jobs should you be looking for if you have a disability?
We’ll answer that in this article. Here, we’ve divided the best jobs into sections and mentioned a few words why we believe these jobs are ideal for you.
These are the topics we’ll cover:
- Different types of developmental disabilities.
- Best Jobs for Physically Disabled with a special focus on visual impairment, hearing impairment, and cerebral palsy.
- Best Job Opportunities for People With Learning Disabilities
- Best Jobs for Intellectually Disabled
- How can people without disabilities help the disabled population find jobs?
Different Types of Developmental Disabilities
Developmental disabilities are those physical or intellectual limitations that happen because of issues during a baby’s development. These include autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, hearing and visual impairments, cerebral palsy and learning and intellectual disabilities.
Learning disabilities can be dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Intellectual disabilities are often associated with a low IQ.
Although advancements in technology offer a lot of support, such disabilities tend to stay with the person forever.
Some conditions such as dyslexia or mild hearing impairment can be treated with therapy, surgery or assistive devices but most other conditions don’t have a treatment yet.
The Americans with Disabilities Act provides protection to disabled people in the workplace. Today, you can find a job in almost all lines of work based on the type of disability you have.
There are many success stories of people who’ve broken down barriers and made their marks in the workplace.
For example, Lucas Radaelli is an engineer at Google and completely blind. Mark Burke, Jon Cetrano, and Sam Costner are three deaf businessmen who own a brewery. Edward Barbanell has Down’s syndrome and has been acting for over 20 years. And the list goes on.
Best Jobs for Physically Disabled
People with physical disabilities can do almost all jobs that have work-from-home options. These professionals usually have the same mental capacity and problem-solving skills as anyone else.
Some of the jobs for physically disabled people include:
- Computer or IT support
- Writing
- Programming, coding or software development
- Marketing jobs
- Virtual assistant
- Scientific Research jobs
Job for People with Visual Impairment
There are many resources these days to assist visually impaired people to do amazing things.
You can install software to help you read, understand images and fulfill your work responsibilities. Here are some jobs fit for the blind or visually impaired:
1. Customer Service Job
Not only customer service jobs, but all ‘on the phone’ jobs such as in call centers, telemarketing or IT support are ideal for this population. You can automate the process through computers and perform all your tasks via audio.
These jobs include answering phone calls, solving callers’ issues, noting complaints, and taking feedback.
2. Consulting Jobs
These can be jobs such as being a life coach, financial advisor or career counselor. Blind people can work from home as counselors or stay in one office while at work.
3. Sales Representative
Many sales representatives either make calls from the office or pitch their products online to potential customers. This job requires making sales, promoting your products, and sometimes taking and logging customer feedback for the marketing teams.
4. Teaching Jobs
Teaching jobs for the visually impaired can be as teacher assistants (TA), coaches, teachers or professors. You can use braille cards for making lessons and typing just like you would for reading in any other situation.
Jobs for People with Hearing Impairments
There’s almost nothing that people with hearing impairments can’t do today.
Nyle DiMarco – a deaf person – won America’s Next Top Model in 2015 and is now a Broadway producer. There are many actors, teachers, politicians, and performers who have found their calling even with hearing impairments.
Here are a few career paths you can choose if you are deaf:
1. Graphic Design
Graphic designers work with computerized tools and software to do their jobs. You can become a logo designer and create visual concepts for businesses all over the world, or do some other design work with this skill.
2. Sciences
You can start a career in sciences and become an archeologist, physicist, chemist or pathologist working in hospital settings. These jobs can be great because you get to work in a lab or an office where conversation can be limited.
3. Research Assistant
Research assistants in most fields work a lot with computers and data – both of which don’t require much use of your auditory sense. You can use assistive devices to convert the audio to words if needed.
4. Landscaping
You can be a landscape designer, architect or gardener despite your hearing impairment. Here, you can either work remotely or outdoors creating designs, developing gardens and maintaining outdoor spaces.
5. Courier
You can be a courier and deliver packages on a bike or in a van. It’s a job that doesn’t require much specialized education so most people can qualify. With the modern tech and tracking software, you won’t have to interact with too many strangers on the job.
Jobs for People with Cerebral Palsy
The effects of Cerebral palsy differ great from person to person. Some can walk while others use wheelchairs, for example.
Here are some fitting jobs if you have cerebral palsy.
1. Bank Tellers
Bank tellers have desk jobs. They deal with customers and help them to conduct transactions, solve issues, cash checks and withdraw money from their bank accounts. You can be seated while doing this and also use assistive devices if need be.
2. Government Agencies
You can become a government employee and work in loan offices, courts, and post offices. Here, jobs include receptionists, paralegals, human resources or in billing stations. You can get disability benefits from the government as well.
3. Pharmacy Jobs
Some pharmacy jobs can be ideal for adults with cerebral palsy. These include pharmacists, pharmacy assistants in private pharmacies. You can also work in a hospital pathology lab.
4. Business Analysis and Research Jobs
Jobs such as financial analysts, data analysts and marketing research require a high level of intellectual skills. Adults who don’t have intellectual disabilities along with cerebral palsy can excel at these jobs. In some cases, working from home is also an option in these roles.
5. Software Engineering and IT Jobs
UI/UX developers, web developers, data entry, video editors and so many more software and IT jobs can be great for people with disabilities. These jobs were remote long before 2020. You can use special computers or assistive devices and work in the IT industry.
Best Job Opportunities for People with Learning Disabilities
People with learning disabilities sometimes don’t do too well with fast-paced jobs. But there are plenty of other careers that you can excel in.
Here are some full-time jobs that you can do with learning disabilities:
1. Physical Labor Jobs
Jobs like being a carpenter, electrician or plumber can be good for people with learning disabilities. That’s because these don’t require too much writing or calculations and you’ll have to depend on the skill more than anything else.
2. Construction Jobs
You can work with heavy machinery at construction sites or work at workshops as a welder or car mechanic. Here, you can learn the skill by watching and practicing rather than through books. That makes it easier for people with learning disabilities to perform these jobs.
3. Driving
Driving requires some understanding of routes and the ability to read maps but other than that, this is a skill-based job. People with mild learning disabilities can make a career out of driving trucks, cabs or private cars for businesses.
4. Fitness Coach or Assistant
You can be a fitness coach for younger kids that require physical education more than sports-specific training. Or become a coaching assistant to help with the equipment, uniforms, and water.
5. Kitchen Assistant
People with learning disabilities can do well at jobs such as kitchen assistant, cafeteria worker, or in fast food. You can learn the work after some training and perform the same tasks every day without too much strategy or re-learning.
6. Filmmakers
Adults with conditions such as dyslexia are usually good with animations, puzzles and storytelling. You can leverage these skills to become a filmmaker and shoot videos for a living.
7. Nail Salon Assistant
If you have a good artistic sense, then you can become a nail salon artist or a tattoo artist. Here, you can work with people and create your own designs without having to read or do many mathematical calculations.
8. Parking Attendant
This is a simple job and can be good even for people with moderate or severe learning disabilities. Here, you can give out tokens, open the gate and take the parking fee at a parking building.
9. Jobs in Supermarkets
These can be bagging, stocking shelves, moving inventory or helping customers find products. People with learning disabilities can learn routes and do this job well.
10. Restaurant Jobs
You can be a barista, restaurant server or line cook. Sometimes, people with learning disabilities are better than average as culinary artists and chefs so restaurant jobs are a career path to explore.
Best Jobs for Intellectually Disabled
Intellectual disabilities can be limiting in some aspects, but there are still plenty of job opportunities for people with disabilities. Here are some ideas:
1. Artistic Jobs
You can do jobs such as painting, interior designing, computer animation, storytelling, and photography with intellectual disabilities.
2. Working with Animals
Working with animals can be calming and so working on farms, in pet stores, as a dog walker, animal breeder, or a pet sitter may all be suitable career paths.
3. Organizational Jobs
Some people with intellectual disabilities can be great at simple organizational tasks. The jobs can include housekeeping or organizing files at offices. Store managers or clerks may also be suitable options.
4. A Physician Assistant or Dental Assistant
People with developmental disabilities such as Down’s syndrome can work as assistants to office managers, physicians, or dentists. Here, you’ll have to memorize instrument names and storage locations and perform orderly duties.
5. Food Preparation Worker or Chef
Adults with intellectual disabilities can follow instructions and do well at food service jobs after required training. You can be a chef, do restaurant prep work, or prepare fast food.
Don’t Have a Disability but Want to Help? Here’s How
People without disabilities who have a desire to help those with disabilities can work in government agencies or non-profit organizations such as Easterseals.
You can work in disability employment services and help find great jobs for people with disabilities. This can be a side hustle with meaning or your full-time job.
Working at Easterseals has many employee benefits. These include childcare vouchers and student loan forgiveness to name a few.
You not only get to help people every day but also enjoy a great workplace culture and extra support.
We Help Find Job Opportunities for People With Developmental Disabilities
If you have a disability and are searching for a job, we can help. Our Employment and Job Training for People with Disabilities is designed to help you find and keep a great job.
We can identify your job skills and passions and match you with a suitable career. Our program also includes job training and coaching to prepare seniors or veterans to find employment in today’s markets.
If you need access to assistive technology or transport, then we can connect you with the relevant local services that can help provide you with what you need.
Contact Easterseals today to find a job that’s suitable for your disability.