Great Jobs for People With Disabilities

You probably didn't let your disability slow you down in school. You shouldn’t let a physical or mental impairment stop you from participating in the workforce, either.

In fact, companies in various industries are actively trying to recruit disabled people. It is easy to understand why. People with disabilities make up a surprisingly high percentage of the workforce. The 2017 census found that there are 40 million disabled individuals in America.

Your disability could even be an asset in some fields. Some companies look for disabled management consultants because they can provide insight into any issues faced by other impaired employees. Similarly, a disabled paraprofessional can relate to young students who have similar physical or mental challenges.

Of course, a job that works for one disabled person might not be good for another person. Below are some career paths for people with various disabilities.

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disabilities such as Down Syndrome or autism can cause social or conceptual impairments. Some people with these disorders also have incredible creativity that can be utilized as an artist or a chef.

Others with intellectual disabilities prefer the freedom of life on the road. If this sounds like you, then trucking jobs could be a perfect fit.

Visual Disability

Blind people may have a heightened sense of hearing that is useful for audio-related jobs. Audio engineers, for instance, do not have to rely on their vision and can earn over $50,000 a year.

Phone-based jobs are also good options for those who are visually impaired. As long as you enjoy interacting with other people, you can work as a telephone operator or telemarketer. Strong negotiators, meanwhile, can get a job as a compensation manager and receive more than $100,000 annually.

Hearing Disability

Just as blind people sometimes have enhanced hearing, deaf people can have heightened visualization skills. Those with a keen eye for detail could opt for a career as a graphic designer or drafter.

Deaf individuals can also focus at loud job sites that could be distracting to others. They thus perform well as machinists or construction workers.

There are many other jobs that do not rely on hearing capabilities. Deaf individuals have achieved careers as geologists, astronomers or other types of scientists. Some hearing-impaired people have even become professional actors or film producers.

Mobility Disability

There are approximately 9.4 million Americans who have some form of physical limitation. Thankfully, there are numerous desk jobs available that don’t require you to move around too much.

If you are mathematically inclined, you can become an accountant or actuary. These jobs pay well and often let you use a customized desk fit for your specific needs. In fact, financial institutions are some of the nation's top employers of disabled individuals.

Pretty much any telecommuting job is ideal for a person in a wheelchair. Thanks to technology, more and more careers allow you to work from home. Those interested in medicine could become a medical biller or transcriptionist. Those who prefer writing, meanwhile, could opt for a job as an author or freelancer.

Speech Disability

Not all jobs require verbal communication skills. Sometimes, all you need is the ability to use equipment and listen to others. Those who pay attention to detail could thrive as a landscaper or groundskeeper. Those who want to help others, meanwhile, could work as a hospital orderly.

Having a disability shouldn’t prevent you from finding a great job. While the job search process can be frustrating for both disabled and non-disabled people, you shouldn’t let any roadblocks discourage you. Try asking any friends or relatives if they know anyone who is hiring. USAJobs and The National Telecommuting Institute are also great resources.

Even if you are a disabled individual, you can obtain the job you want. You can crunch numbers as an actuary or travel the country as a truck driver. Just do your research and be confident during your interview, and employers will be happy to hire you.