It’s common to hear myths and misconceptions about the wisdom of hiring a person with a disability, as well as about the ability of people with disabilities to find and maintain quality employment. Many employers, community-based organizations, and people with disabilities believe incorrectly that quality employment is impossible for people with disabilities.

The goal of community outreach and orientation is to inform employers, community-based organizations, and people with disabilities and their families that with the right services and supports, quality employment is not only possible, but as likely for a person with a disability as for a person without a disability.

The desired result is increased referrals for vocational rehabilitation services from community-based organizations and applications from people with disabilities.

There are many ways to approach a community outreach plan. Here are key elements to keep in mind when developing a plan that speaks to your community’s unique demographics and needs and results in your desired outcome:

• Develop relationships with key community and business stakeholders to better understand your audience.
• Define your goals, strategies, and audience based on your community.
• Work collaboratively with community and business stakeholders to develop engaging, culturally aware materials and activities targeted to your unique community
• Apply the SMART framework to develop your goals and activities:
  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Relevant
  • Time-bound
• Share information broadly through diverse channels:
• Public service announcements
• Community forums
• Listening sessions
• Job fairs
• Social media
• Radio interviews
• Accessible videos
• Podcasts
• Literature
• Be responsive to feedback and available for discussion to further inform and develop collaborations.

Selected resource and training materials to support community outreach and orientation:

• How to Create an Outreach Work Plan from Enroll America
• Webcast: Lessons Learned from Wisconsin Promise
• Webcast: Poverty and Disability – An Overview

Selected resources for Community Outreach and Orientation:

• Inclusive Outreach and Public Engagement Guide, Seattle Office for Civil Rights
• Examples of SMART Performance and Development Goals, by the County of San Mateo, California, Human Resources Department
• Community Needs and Resources Assessment Resources from Project E3’s Resource Library

Project E3’s research summaries provide an “At-a-Glance” overview the latest research findings, as well as recommendations for best practices and how to incorporate them in your work.

• Examining Biases to Support Employment as a Means out of Poverty
• Raising Expectations for Youth with Disabilities
• Assessing the Climate of Disability Inclusion in the Workplace
• The Elephant in the Room: Poverty, Disability, and Employment
• The Benefits of Employing People with a Mental Health Disability
• Research on Community Needs and Resources Assessments from Project E3’s Research Library