(406) 259-5181
1201 Grand Ave #1
Billings, MT 59102
  • Programs & Services
    • Information and Referral
    • Medicaid Community First Choice Self Directed Personal Assistance Program (CFC-SDPAS)
    • Independent Living Skills
    • Peer Mentoring
    • Social Action and Systems Change
    • Best Practices for Businesses
    • SPIRIT Club Virtual Health and Fitness
    • Plain Text Brochure
  • Advocacy
  • About
    • News
    • Get email updates from LIFTT
    • LIFTT’s COVID-19 Response
    • Upcoming Events
    • Board Calendar & Minutes
    • Donate
    • Support LIFTT while you shop
    • Employment @ LIFTT
  • Resources
    • Housing
    • Transportation
    • Education
    • Job Seekers & Employers
    • ADA/Disability Rights
  • Contact
ADA 25 Bus chalk drawing by Tanya Thomas
Donate
Independent Living Philosophy
Services
adjust font size
Wish List
Help support our peer groups in social & educational activities >

Job Seekers & Employers

Helpful information for Job Seekers

Disclosing Disability: Your Choice

Disclosing a disability to an employer is a personal choice. People with disabilities are not required to disclose their disability and it is against the law for employers to ask an employee is the employee has a disability.  An employer can ask if the employee needs accommodations to do the job.

Job applicants will probably want to think about whether or not they need to ask for job accommodation. People with disabilities should be prepared to do at an interview; it’s best to think about an answer beforehand to be confident in presenting a well-thought request. It is always good to rehearse. If you know someone who is an employer you might want to ask him or her to go through a practice interview and critique answers, prior to the “real” interview.

Some people with disabilities will want to disclose their disability at the interview to let the employer know how they intend to adapt the job tasks and alleviate any of the employer’s unnecessary concerns. Others who do not need many accommodations may prefer not invite any potential employer bias, and may choose not to disclose their disability.

Some employers appreciate being approached with trust and complete openness, while other employers may not know how to respond, or may respond poorly. Only the person with the disability should decide what will be disclosed.

Remember, too, there are many employers seeking qualified applicants with disabilities to work in their organization.  LIFTT suggests starting your employment search by contacting disability-friendly employers.  You may find the list of Employment Resources useful.

If you are a person with a disability, please contact LIFTT for additional information about realizing your employment goals.

RESOURCES

  • Ability Links
  • AFB Career Connect
  • Department of Labor
  • JAN –  Job Accommodation Network

Helpful information for Employers

When do I have to provide an accommodation?

You must provide a reasonable accommodation if a person with a disability needs one in order to apply for a job, perform a job, or enjoy benefits equal to those you offer other employees. You do not have to provide any accommodation that would pose an undue hardship.

What is an undue hardship?

Undue hardship means that the accommodation would be too difficult or too expensive to provide, in light of the employer’s size, financial resources, and the needs of the business. An employer may not refuse to provide an accommodation just because it involves some cost. An employer does not have to provide the exact accommodation the employee or job applicant wants. If more than one accommodation works, the employer may choose which one to provide.

RESOURCES:

  • JAN –  Job Accommodation Network – An excellent resource for exploring reasonable accommodation.
  • Small Employers and Reasonable Accommodation
  • Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN) – A national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service to assist employers in locating and recruiting qualified workers with disabilities. EARN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy with additional support provided by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Employment Support Programs. 1-866- EARN NOW (327-6669)
Share

    • Subscribe to Email News Updates from LIFTT 
    • Subscribe to the Montana CIL Action Alert System 
    Share

For more information about using, or obtaining our services call (406) 259-5181 or (800) 669-6319.

Resources

  • Housing
  • Job Seekers & Employers
  • Transportation
  • Education
  • ADA/Disability Rights
    • Home
    • Programs & Services
    • Advocacy
    • About
    • Resources
    • PCA Pay Schedule
    • Contact
© 2021 LIFTT
Website by Webgrain
LIFTT is a not-for-profit agency governed by a consumer-controlled Board of Directors whose lives have been personally impacted by a disability. It is funded in part by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in 1992 (Title VII - Independent Living Services), and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Disability Services Division).