How to Successfully Find Work When You Have a Disability

By: Lydia Chan

Looking for a job is never a breeze, but when you’re living with a disability, it can feel like you’re handed a map with half the roads missing. You’ve got skills, ideas, drive, and value, but sometimes the way forward isn’t clearly marked. That’s why knowing where to aim your effort matters more than ever. The good news? There are real, practical steps you can take to make this search more navigable. It’s not about pretending barriers don’t exist, it’s about finding the gaps in the wall and widening them just enough to walk through. Here’s how to move with purpose, tap into the right networks, and bring your strengths to the surface.

Seek Out Inclusive Employers

Some companies talk the talk, but others build ramps where there used to be walls. You want to aim for those—the ones already proving that inclusion isn’t a footnote, it’s policy. Start by researching companies known for inclusive hiring, especially those with strong disability hiring initiatives or that partner with disability advocacy groups. Keep an eye on their career pages, and look into their statements on diversity and employee resource groups. Sometimes, real inclusion shows up not just in benefits but in photos, in testimonials, in leadership. Don’t be afraid to ask in interviews how they support disabled staff—it’s your right to know, and their answer tells you everything.

Craft a Stellar Resume

Your resume needs to hit hard and clean—no fluff, no errors, no formatting messes. Start by focusing on achievements instead of duties, and tailor each version to the job you’re eyeing. Show results, not responsibilities. And once it’s polished, save yourself the formatting headaches by converting it into a PDF. This not only ensures your content stays consistent across devices, but it’s also easier for screen readers and hiring platforms to interpret. If you’re unsure how, there are options available to create PDFs that turn any document into a professional-looking file. Little touches like this can lift your resume from overlooked to overbooked.

Use Specialized Job Boards

It’s easy to get lost in a sea of job listings that don’t speak to you or your needs. That’s where niche job boards come in, cutting through the noise and delivering roles built with access in mind. Platforms like AbilityJobs, which hosts the largest searchable resume bank, focus specifically on opportunities for people with disabilities. These boards often feature employers already familiar with accommodations and supportive policies. It’s a time-saver and a sanity-saver too. Spend your energy where it counts—where companies aren’t just tolerant but enthusiastic about hiring disabled professionals. And once you land an interview, they’re already halfway down the road to understanding your value.

Highlight Your Strengths

Your disability is not the story’s end, it’s part of the story’s strength. Maybe your chronic condition taught you resourcefulness, or your mobility tools made you a logistics master. Learn to frame those experiences in ways that click with hiring managers, even if they’ve never walked in your shoes. There are guides out there on how to showcase disability-driven strengths, from emphasizing adaptability to spotlighting communication skills honed through medical or advocacy contexts. You’re not asking for pity, you’re explaining your power. Say it clearly, say it proudly—what you’ve overcome says a lot about what you can take on next.

Understand Your Rights

Let’s be blunt. Some employers will need reminding that access isn’t optional. Under federal law, you’re entitled to reasonable accommodation during the hiring process and beyond. That might mean a sign language interpreter, a screen reader, or a wheelchair-accessible interview room. It’s worth brushing up on what’s guaranteed to you—start with guides that explain your reasonable accommodation during the hiring process in plain language. Discrimination can be subtle, but you’ll spot it faster when you know your baseline rights. And if someone flinches at the mention of accessibility, you can walk away knowing it wasn’t you, it was them.

Prepare for Interviews

Interviewing with a disability can feel like juggling flaming pins—you’re balancing honesty, professionalism, and self-advocacy all at once. The goal isn’t to hide who you are, but to present your story in a way that feels confident, not apologetic. Practice answers to awkward questions, prepare to speak about accommodations if needed, and consider whether or not you want to disclose. Resources on navigating interviews with a disability can help you rehearse what to say and how to say it. Interviews aren’t pop quizzes, they’re conversations. And you’re allowed to steer them in a direction that respects your needs.

Leverage Government Resources

You don’t have to do this solo. There are public programs, counselors, training opportunities, and legal resources all built to help disabled individuals find meaningful work. Whether it’s resume help, interview coaching, or career retraining, tapping into job training and employment programs can give you a serious leg up. These resources are usually free, often underused, and they come with staff who understand what you’re up against. Don’t let pride or confusion keep you from asking. Sometimes the smartest move is letting someone else open the door so you can walk through it at full stride. Support isn’t a crutch—it’s leverage.

Job hunting is never just about resumes or job boards. It’s about pushing through the moments that tell you to give up, and choosing instead to adapt, ask, speak, and move. The system wasn’t built with everyone in mind, but that doesn’t mean you can’t break it open a little more with every application. Stay loud. Stay sharp. And if the doors don’t open easily? That’s just your cue to knock a little harder.