{"id":81136,"date":"2014-09-15T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2014-09-15T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=81136"},"modified":"2014-09-14T13:48:06","modified_gmt":"2014-09-14T18:48:06","slug":"five-tips-on-going-on-an-interview-in-a-wheelchair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=81136","title":{"rendered":"Five Tips on Going on an Interview in a Wheelchair"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Leigh Milligan, Senior Editor, INALJ Pennsylvania<\/a>, Puerto Rico<\/a>, Rhode Island<\/a>, South Carolina<\/a>, South Dakota<\/a>, Tennessee<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Five Tips on Going on an Interview in a Wheelchair<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"leigh.milligan\"<\/a>I work in an accessible library in a rehabilitation hospital that caters specifically to\u00a0patrons in wheelchairs. Most of these patients suffer from spinal cord injury, brain\u00a0injury or amputation. Some of the patients are very eager to get out of the hospital and\u00a0back into a normal life. However, most patients I serve are struggling on how they will\u00a0function in the real world in a wheelchair. I am glad I am able to offer these patients\u00a0library services, because it really makes them feel good when they can read a book or use\u00a0a computer. I feel these simple things are big steps in living life in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n

A lot of these patients will have to go back to work or find a new job after getting\u00a0out of the hospital. I was inspired by INALJ blogs previously written on this subject:\u00a0Job Hunting and Interviewing when you have a Disability<\/a> and Should you List Your\u00a0Disability on your Cover Letter or Resume?<\/a> I wanted to write my own tips for job\u00a0hunting and interviewing with a disability since I work with patients with disabilities in\u00a0the library, and I feel I could inspire them in some way. There is a lot on this subject\u00a0beyond all the blog posts that have and will be written. I decided to focus specifically\u00a0with the community I work with: patrons in wheelchairs.<\/p>\n

1. Know your rights.<\/strong> Under the American Disabilities Act, you do not have to\u00a0answer any questions about your disability until you are offered the job. This\u00a0means if asked any questions about being in a wheelchair, you do not have to\u00a0answer these questions. To ask about your disability is illegal. If asked any\u00a0questions, try to flip the conversation to something about your skills and abilities.<\/p>\n

2. Prepare information if you need an accommodation.<\/strong> While an employer is\u00a0not allowed under the ADA to ask you about your disability, they can ask if\u00a0you need an accommodation before they offer you a job. You can ask for an\u00a0accommodation at any time from when you apply to when you work for the\u00a0company. But the sooner the better so the employer will know how to make the\u00a0job work for you. For example, if you will need a ramp to get into the building,\u00a0put that in writing to the employer.<\/p>\n

3. Put everything in writing.<\/strong> Make sure anything you need from this job to help\u00a0with your disability, put it in writing. It\u2019s professional and can cause less mistakes\u00a0and conflict in the workplace.<\/p>\n

4. Ask questions!<\/strong> Asking questions is great. First of all it shows the interviewer\u00a0you are interested in the job. Asking questions about the company shows you did\u00a0your homework. Ask questions about your job tasks, to make sure you will be\u00a0able to perform them. Make sure you ask questions about what accommodations\u00a0you will need. Find out what computers\/equipment you would be using. Ask\u00a0about your work area, will it be able to accommodate you? Also if you do not\u00a0drive, find out if there is a public transportation or a shuttle that can get you to\u00a0work. You need to find out if this job will be a good and safe fit for you.<\/p>\n

5. In between the interview and accepting the offer, ask for a tour.<\/strong> This way you\u00a0can see your workspace and the building and you will be able to find out what\u00a0accommodations you will need. You will be able to see how you will enter and\u00a0exit the building and how you will get around the building while working. Find\u00a0out where the bathrooms are and the emergency exits. Again you are doing this\u00a0to find out if this job with the accommodations will be a good fit for you. It is all\u00a0about fit.<\/p>\n

I hope my tips are helpful for those in wheelchairs going on interviews as well as those doing the interviewing!<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few more additional resources:<\/p>\n

Accommodation Process for Office Workers Who Use Wheelchairs<\/a><\/p>\n

Americans with Disabilities Act<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Leigh Milligan, Senior Editor, INALJ Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee Five Tips on Going on an Interview in a Wheelchair I work in an accessible library in a rehabilitation hospital that caters specifically to\u00a0patrons in wheelchairs. Most of these patients suffer from spinal cord injury, brain\u00a0injury or amputation. Some…<\/p>\n

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