Employer Resource Manual. Project Path

Project Path at Illinois' College of DuPage was established to provide pre-employment training and career counseling for disabled students. To encourage the integration of qualified individuals with disabilities into the workplace, the project compiled this resource manual for area businesses, providing tips for interacting with disabled people and names, addresses and telephone numbers of service providers. Following a brief introduction, the manual presents a glossary of terms related to disabilities, tips on changing common habits of speech that reinforce myths and stereotypes about people with disabilities, tips on communicating with deaf/hearing impaired people, suggestions for interacting with persons with visual impairments, and tips for preparing for encounters with wheelchair users. Next, a fact sheet is provided on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Also, information related to appropriate interview questions for disabled job candidates and writing non-discriminatory job descriptions and advertisements is presented. The bulk of the manual consists of telephone numbers and/or addresses of resource agencies, including Illinois and national government agencies dealing with ADA, disabilities, and access; national advocacy groups; groups dealing with specific disabilities; organizations providing assistive technology training and consulting; groups providing materials, services, and publications; transportation service organizations; job training centers in Illinois; agencies offering job placement or other services to employers; and educational institutions with employment services for people with disabilities. (TGI)