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Business Engagement Toolkit: Innovative Strategies for Engaging with Employers

Effective business engagement is a critical part of training and placing job seekers with disabilities. It also helps vocational rehabilitation professionals supply employers with skilled, qualified workers to meet their business needs. It results in positive outcomes for both businesses and job candidates.

Explore VR Business Engagement

This toolkit gives vocational rehabilitation professionals the tools they need to develop and implement innovative engagement strategies with employers. Business engagement is interaction between employers, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and other workforce development and education organizations. Both people with disabilities and employers benefit from the partnership between a vocational rehabilitation agency and business:

Benefit to People with Disabilities

  • Access to a new talent pool of qualified candidates for employment.
  • Access to a team of employment specialists and VR counselors with knowledge and expertise regarding the employment needs of people with disabilities.
  • Guidance and consultation regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accommodations, and accessibility.
  • Disability awareness training.
  • Consultation regarding Section 503 compliance and tax incentives.
  • Creation and funding of a range of work experiences including on-the-job training and internships.
  • Opportunities for collaboration with community colleges, community rehabilitation programs, and other organizations responsive to workforce needs of businesses.

Benefits to Business and Industry

  • Access to accurate, timely labor market information for use in career decision-making and planning.
  • Increased opportunities for competitive, integrated work experiences prior to hire.
  • High-quality job matching services.
  • Increased personal interaction with hiring personnel.
  • Access to job openings customized to individual needs and abilities.
  • Higher-quality outcomes (wages, hours, benefits).
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