Employment

About

United Spinal Association’s Pathways to Employment (PTE) Program is designed to support the pursuit of job opportunities for people with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). PTE provides access to resources for people who want to return to work, including information about benefits, transitioning to employment, how-to guides, and guidance on removing barriers to employment and access to mentors who have successfully returned to work after injury or diagnosis. The Pathways to Employment program also supports employers interested in ensuring that people with disabilities are represented in their workforce by providing guidance and resources in recruitment, onboarding and accommodations through trainings and distributing job opportunities to our national network of members and 50 chapters.

With Support From

Graig H. Neilsen Foundation Logo Verizon Logo Genentech Logo
Allsup

Partner Employers

CVS Health
Merck
T-Mobile
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
American Airlines
Pratt & Whitney
NTI, Inc.

Job Seeker Resources

If you are a person living with SCI/D who would like to return to work, we can help you! After SCI/D there is so much to think about. Everyone wants to participate in their lives as much as they can and regain their independence. But some of the challenges of living with SCI/D can seem insurmountable. This includes returning to work.

The Pathways to Employment program will give you the opportunity to:

Interact with someone who has successfully adjusted to working with a disability
Gain practical information on resources, benefits, and work incentive programs
Develop an employment plan
Prepare for job interviews
Learn self-advocacy skills
Acquire reasonable accommodations

Complete the form to be matched with Josh Basile our United Spinal disability employment job mentor. He will answer your questions and match you with a disability employment benefits counselor to help navigate the working world and your current government benefits. United Spinal is here to help!

You can learn more about Josh’s disability employment journey by reading this New Mobility column entitled “You Are Not Alone: My Quadriplegic Employment Journey“.

United Spinal will pair you with a trained peer mentor to work with. Your peer mentor is a person with SCI/D who is or was recently employed, and has experienced many of the things you will go through on your pathway to employment.

Request Assistance With Your Pathway to Employment

Employer Resources

Many companies are realizing that while hiring people with disabilities is a socially responsible policy it makes great business sense as well. While every individual is unique, many people with disabilities have developed skills and characteristics that are extremely valuable to employers. Having the tenacity to endure a completely life changing condition, acclimate to a new way of operating in the world, the persistence to overcome obstacles, the ingenuity and troubleshooting skills to navigate challenges are a few of the qualities that people with disabilities can bring to a workplace. In addition, many individuals with spinal cord injury/disease have successfully learned to handle complex insurance, medical or other benefit systems adhering to detailed reporting requirements and policies. Those who need personal care attendants to assist with activities of daily life essentially demonstrate the skills necessary to run a small business – hiring, personnel management, delegation, task management, and conflict resolution.

United Spinal’s Pathways to Employment program is here to help with training, resources and connections to qualified individuals ready to work.

Training

The Pathways to Employment program offers a training presentation and curriculum designed for hiring managers, recruiters, human resources and executive leadership that provides guidance and resources related to the recruitment and onboarding processes to ensure staff is aware of legal considerations, helpful information on interacting with people with disabilities, tips for successful interviews and accommodation request assistance.

In-person or virtual trainings available.

Session time is 2 hours. Additional elements can be added to expand curriculum if your company is looking for a more intense, interactive session.

Expected Outcomes

Identify potential barriers in current recruitment and onboarding processes
Describe practical elements of successful interviews with people with disabilities
Discuss approaches to accommodation requests