3 Ways You Can Start Working with People with Disabilities

3 Ways You Can Start Working with People with Disabilities

It can be difficult to narrow down your options when you decide you’d like to start working with individuals with cognitive or developmental disabilities. That’s probably because there are so many follow-up questions -- do I need special training? How do I even start? Will it be costly to do so?

We understand, and we’re here to help.

The most important aspect of working with an individual with a disability is being willing to, as Jana Thomas put it, “let your guard down, set aside your clinical perspective and really get to know another human being who happens to have a disability.”

If you’re ready to jump in, we have three options to help as you get started finding the perfect fit.

1. Supported Employment is an Easy Way to Work with People with Disabilities ​

This is a very doable idea if you’re a business owner, or if you’re able to influence the hiring process at your job.

Sample Supports provides training to help individuals with disabilities be ready to navigate the workspace, and employers can provide the work by partnering with us! The best part is that there are a wide variety of roles that someone with a disability can fill. In fact, we’ve successfully placed over 300 individuals in stable, satisfying jobs.

A few roles that have been great placement opportunities in the past have been in the agricultural, assembly, and even administrative categories. But that’s just the beginning! Individuals with disabilities are more than able to conquer tasks set in front of them with the right support, so if you have an idea, feel free to ask us if it’s a good fit.

Interested in becoming a partner? Get started right here.

2. Residential Services is a Hands-On Opportunity for Working with Someone with a Disability

Do you have an open spot in your home for someone with a disability? Great! You can support their integration into the community by providing some basic guidance while living alongside them by participating in our Residential Services program. 

This is a great opportunity to truly foster independence for an individual with a cognitive or developmental disability, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. We provide complete support during and after the transition of adding a new person to your home, and even training so that you’re equipped to navigate day-to-day life with ease. 

Want to take a peek into what it’s like to provide a Host Home for someone in the Sample Supports’ network? Hear all about it from Madi and Nathan, two of our Host Home Providers.

3. Providing Foster Care is an Exceptional Way to Help a Child with a Disability Thrive

If you’re ready to become an important part of a child’s life, then foster care may be a great fit for you. We provide an integrated treatment plan and extensive training in mental health, child development, behavioral supports, and disabilities by a professional who has experience providing behavioral intervention. 

There are several responsibilities that come with any foster care situation, and most of our veteran foster parents say that it’s a position that makes you a lot busier, but they’re also the first to say that the role is incredibly rewarding. 

Don’t worry -- we’re here to help with funding and give you access to a variety of services and programs that can support you while you support your foster child. 

Sound good? Start your application today!

Didn’t See a Good Fit? ​

As we said, these are just three ideas of ways you can work with an individual with a disability. If none of the above seemed quite right, don’t stress -- we have several options for you. Go ahead and explore our site and see if there’s a better fit, or feel free to just get in contact with us and we can help you find the perfect opportunity for you to work with someone with a disability.

Get in Touch with Sample Supports