Jobs for People with Brain Injuries
A parent can devote all the time they want to a brain injured baby, but an uncertain future can mean there’s no telling how long such care will be needed
Get A 100% Free CASE EvaluationOne of the concerns parents have is how the child will eventually live on their own if necessary. Their ability to find employment is a worry as well. Under U.S. law, an employee with a disability may receive accommodations at the workplace. The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers a broad definition of physical or mental disability and includes brain injury as one form.
Although the ADA doesn’t list medical conditions that are considered disabilities, it established a requirement that companies in the private sector provide reasonable accommodations if they employ 15 people or more. Such accommodations falling under this definition include accessible work areas, flexible work schedules, and reassignment of tasks to other workers when necessary, without penalty to the individual protected by the law.
Some major provisions of the ADA include:
- Title I, which prohibits discrimination against anyone qualified for a job who has a disability, requires they have equal opportunities to apply for work, be hired, and receive job training.
- Title II, which covers discrimination related to programs, services, and activities run using federal funds, including those in the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services.
- Title IV, enforced by the Federal Communications Commission, which provisions access to telephone, Internet, and television services for those with hearing and speech challenges, common in people with brain injuries.
Additional Federal Regulations
The Ohio Department of Education provides support and academic services to children with brain injuries sustained at birth and later. One can go through the school system and look at applicable training and employment opportunities. However, even more, national laws protect employees with disabilities. One is the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which brings vocational rehabilitation and education services through various federal job training and employment programs. Enforced by the Department of Labor’s Civil Rights Center, Section 188 forbids any discrimination against people with disabilities who receive government financial assistance and participate in programs that are part of the One-Stop Career Centers program.
In addition, Section 511 of the WIOA enforces Vocational Rehabilitation programs for those with disabilities paid subminimum wages. The law, recognized in Ohio, requires them to receive career counseling and referral services every six months, and at least once annual after their first year of employment. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities works to ensure these resources are available, including employment services, work incentives and benefits, and assistance with the application process.
The Rehabilitation Act authorizes the funding used to run vocational rehabilitation programs. Also used to fund independent living programs, it contains three sections that include prohibiting discrimination and requiring employers to take affirmative action to employ and advance qualified individuals. Another section covers federal contractors and subcontractors, while another covers federal agencies and programs.
In Ohio, not only does federal law apply in regard to anti-discrimination, but there are also services that assist individuals with disabilities (including those with brain injuries) in advancing their careers and sustaining an independent life where possible.