Getting back into the work force after a spinal cord injury is one the biggest and most challenging steps you will take on your journey of recovery. One of the best and most simple resources is networking with absolutely everyone you come in contact with. That could include friends, family, former coworkers or employers, members of your religious organization, local community members such as doctors, physical therapists, counselors, members of professional organizations or social clubs, etc. Let people know you're job hunting, what your experience is and what your future interests are.
The Internet is an awesome way to job hunt right from the comfort of your own home. You can check out classified ads, job posting boards and company employment opportunities online. If you don't have Internet access at home, call your local public or college library.
The following list of employment resources will also aide you in job hunting and getting the resources and equipment you need to be able to perform your job to the best of your ability. Good luck!
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE LIST AHEAD-Association
on Higher Education & Disability
P.O. Box 21192 Columbus, OH 43221-0192
(614) 488-4972 (V/TDD)
National Organization
The ARC National Employment & Training Program
500 East Border, Suite 300 Arlington, TX 76010
(800) 433-5255
National Organization
Association of Persons in Supported Employment
(APSE)
PO Box 27523 Richmond, VA 23261
(804) 278-9187
National Organization
CAPabilities P.O. Box 1619 Rocky Mountain,
NC 27802-1619
(919) 450-8028
National Organization
Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA)
9625 Black Mountain Road, Suite 207 San Diego, CA 92126-4564
(619) 578-3558National Organization
Dole Foundation for Employment of People
with Disabilities
1819 H Street NW Washington, DC 20006
(202) 457-0318 (V/TDD)
National Organization
Epilepsy Foundation TAPS 4351 Garden City
Drive Landover, MD 20785
(800) EFA-1000
National Organization
Federal Jobs Bulletin Board Federal Job Information
Centers Washington Service Center
PO Box 52; 1900 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20415-0001 (202) 606-4800
(V) (202) 606-0023 (TDD)
National Bulletin Board Foundation on Employment
& Disability
3820 Del Amo Blvd., Suite 246 Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 214-3430
National Organization
Goodwill Industries of America
9200 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 530-6500
National Organization
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind
Youths and Adults
111 Middle Neck Road Sands Point, NY 11050
(516) 944-8900 (V/TDD)
National Organization
IAM CARES IAMAW Grand Lodge Building
9000 Machinists Place; Suite 204 Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-2687
(301) 967-4717
National Organization
ILRU Job Bank Independent Living Jobs
2323 South Shepard; Suite 1000 Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-0232
National Organization
Inter-National Association of Business, Industry,
and Rehabilitation (I-NABIR)
PO Box 15242 Washington, DC 20003
(202) 543-6353
Inter-National Organization
Job Bank USA 1420 Spring Hill Road, Suite
480 McLean, VA 22102
(800) 296-1USA
National Organization
Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB) National
Federation of the Blind (NFB) Department of Labor
1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, MD 21230
(800) 638-7518
National Organization
Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Programs
Office of Job Training Programs U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW; Room N-4709 Washington, DC 20210
(202)219-6236
National Program
Just One Break 373 Park Avenue South New
York, NY 10016
(212) 725-2500 (V)
(212) 725-2046 (TDD)
National Organization
McDonald's Corporation Employment Division
Kroc Drive Oak Brook, IL 60521
(708) 575-6540 or (708) 575-3775
National Organization
Mainstream Inc, Project Link 3 Bethesda Metro
Center Suite 830 Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 645-2400 (V/TDD) or (301) 654-2401 (V/TDD)
National Organization
National Center on Disability Services (NCDS)
201 I.U. Willets Road Albertson, NY 11507
(516) 747-5400 (V) (516) 747-5355 (TDD)
National Organization
National Center on Employment of the Deaf
(NCED) Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) 52 Lomb Memorial
Drive Rochester, NY 14623
(716) 475-6834 (V) (716) 475-6205 (TDD)
National Organization
National Council on Independent Living 2111
Wilson Blvd; Suite 405 Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 525-3406
National Easter Seal Society 230 W. Monroe
Street; Suite 1800 Chicago, IL 60606-4802
(312) 726-6200 (V)
(312) 726-4258 (TDD)
National Organization
National Industries for the Blind 524 Hamburg
Turnpike, CN969 Wayne, NJ 07474
(201) 595-9200
National Organization
President's Committee on Employment of People
with Disabilities 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20004
(202) 376-6200 (V)
(202) 376-6205 (TDD)
National Organization
Project Hired P.O. Box 3453; Mailstop 31
Sunnyvale, CA 94088
(408) 730-0880
(Serves Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco & Alameda Counties
of CA only)
Rehabilitation Services Administration
US Department of Education Switzer Building;
330 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20202-2500
(202) 205-5465 (V/TDD)
National Program
Sensory Access Foundation
385 Sherman Avenue; Suite 2 Palo Alto, CA 94306
(415) 329-0430 (V)
(415) 329-0433 (TDD)
California Only
Silent News Job Bulletin 1425 Jefferson Road
Rochester, NY 14623
(716) 272-4905 (TDD)
(800) 421-1220 (RELAY)
National Bulletin
Small Business Administration (SBA)
409 Third Street, SW; Room 8300 Washington, DC 20416
(202) 205-6570
National Administration
U.S. Employment Service Employment and Training
Administration
200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210
(202)219-5257
National Service
Veterans' Employment & Training Service Department
of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210
(202)219-9116
National Administration
PUBLICATIONS
Books regarding job search strategies and resources, home-based
and self-employment, resume writing and using the Internet for job
searching. These publications may be found in local bookstores and
libraries.
Adams Resume Almanac by Bob Adams, 1994.
Successful Job Search Strategies for the Disabled by Jeffrey G. Allen, 1994.
The Edge Resume and Job Search Strategy by Bill Corbin & Shelbi Wright, 1993.
The Best Home-Based Businesses for the 90s by Paul & Sarah Edwards, 1992.
How to Really Start Your Own Business by David E. Gumpert, 1994.
Using the Internet in Your Job Search by Fred E. Jandt & Mary B. Nemnich, 1995.
How to Start, Run, and Stay in Business by Gregory & Patricia Kishel., 1993.
Just Resumes by Kim Marino, 1991.
How to Become Successfully Self-Employed by Brian R. Smith, 1993.
Job Strategies for People with Disabilities by Melanie Astaire Witt, 1992.