NDEAM 2024: Access to Good Jobs for All

Each October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, NDEAM highlights the value of workers with disabilities in the workforce. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” The Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program is joining the celebration and providing services and supports that help many Social Security disability beneficiaries succeed this year and beyond. If you’re starting your work journey, here are some ways to start looking for a job that’s the right fit for you.

Internships

An internship is a short-term work opportunity (part time or full time) that allows you to get experience in a career or career field that interests you. An internship may be paid or unpaid. Many are connected to education programs that provide academic credit and can last four weeks to a year. If you’re interested in finding an internship, here are some resources to help you.

• American Job Center - You can visit the website or visit your local American Job Center to ask about youth programs or summer jobs available. You can also meet with a career counselor.
   
• Workforce Recruitment Program - This program connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with college students and recent graduates with disabilities who want to test their skills in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
   
• Pathways Programs – This program offers specific programs for current students, recent graduates of qualifying educational institutions or programs, and people with advanced degrees. 

Apprenticeships

If you want to learn as you earn, an apprenticeship could be a great option. An apprenticeship is a program that combines work with learning and training, both on and off the job. These are jobs with paid salaries with possible opportunities to advance in your chosen career. Apprenticeship.gov is a good place to start to find an apprenticeship. It is a one-stop source to connect career seekers, employers, and education partners with apprenticeship resources. You can use it to discover apprenticeships across multiple industries. To become an apprentice, search for an opportunity using the Apprenticeship Finder and apply directly with the employer or the program sponsor.

Federal Hiring

Do you think you might be interested in working for the federal government? Federal employees and contractors serve in a variety of jobs in multiple federal agencies, including accounting, public affairs, health care, law enforcement and Information Technology (IT). Here are two programs that can lead to federal jobs.

• Schedule A – If you’re a person with a disability, you can apply and compete for any federal government job for which you are eligible and meet the qualifications. Schedule A is a special hiring authority that gives federal agencies an optional way to hire qualified people with disabilities and offers an exception to the traditional competitive hiring process. You must be eligible for Schedule A and provide “proof of disability.”
   
• Section 503 – Another option is to look for work with an organization that does work for the government, such as federal contractors and subcontractors. A program authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, called Section 503, helps create job opportunities for people with disabilities. It prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against people with disabilities and requires affirmative action in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, and retaining people with disabilities.

You can find federal positions with remote and hybrid options on USAJobs.gov..

How Can Ticket to Work Help?

Social Security's Ticket to Work(Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through the Ticket Program, a service provider such as an Employment Network (EN) can help you along your path to financial independence. Whether you’re looking for a paid internship, apprenticeship or position with the federal government, an EN can help you review if you’re qualified for a specific position or if you have transferable skills that may apply to a specific job posting. You can also use our Find a Job page to search a variety of jobs.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.