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How people with disabilities can use technology to boost their career prospects

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In today’s digital world, there are many ways people with disabilities can use technology to improve career prospects. This guide shows you how to leverage these options to make your dream job a reality. Take charge of your career by reading these tips about how people with disabilities can use technology to boost career prospects.

Remote Learning for Educational Advancement

Online learning platforms can provide the same quality of education as an in-person degree but with a fraction of the time commitment. An online degree in information technology teaches you the skills necessary for building, managing, and protecting all things digital.

You’ll learn how to integrate and use software programs and work in networks or remotely from other countries. Finish classes at your own pace anywhere you have an internet connection. You could also learn marketing or interior design — the possibilities are endless.

Finding Employment

When you’re looking for a job, using resources such as LinkedIn to search for leads in your field and familiarizing yourself with local Garden City, NY business is a start. Some organizations help people with disabilities find employment by providing job training, career counseling, and other support services.

Organizations such as Pathways, Inc. and Wounded Warriors aim to make sure everyone has a chance at reaching full potential in life, regardless of the challenges faced.

If you have a disability and are seeking work, you might be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation services. It’s a free program available in Garden City, NY to help people prepare for, find, and keep jobs.

VR can help connect you with resources, including job training programs, job coaches, equipment loan programs, and on-the-job support, to help boost your career prospects. VR also provides accommodations through tools such as specialized technology or alternative communication strategies to help disabled people work more efficiently.

Assistive Technologies

If you need technology for work, assistive technologies can help improve your productivity. From smartphone apps to tools that help you navigate web pages, these apps can make a difference in how you interact with your computer.

For example, if you have trouble seeing small text on your screen or reading documents, apps such as Magnifier enlarge images on-screen, so they’re easier to read. You can also use specialized keyboards from AbleNet or voice dictation programs, such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, to increase productivity at work or school.

Home-Based Business Opportunities

Many people start a business at home. Working from home is less expensive than renting office space, and you can set your own hours — great for people who have other obligations. And remote work offers more flexibility; freelancers often have opportunities to set schedules based on when they’re most productive, especially if the work is online from anywhere with an Internet connection.

If you’re in charge of remote staff, effective communication is crucial to your company’s success. Use services such as Slack to create team-wide and project-specific channels and a news feed of the most critical information that everyone needs to know to ensure your team can interact successfully.

Reaching New Heights

With home-based business opportunities, remote learning, and assistive technologies, there are many ways people with disabilities can use technology to reach new heights.

Patrick Young is an educator and activist. He believes people with disabilities must live within a unique set of circumstances--the outside world often either underestimates them or ignores their needs altogether. He created Able USA to offer helpful resources to people with disabilities and to provide advice on navigating various aspects of life as a person with disabilities.