Navigating Job Relocation with Limited Mobility: Tips for Job Seekers With Disabilities
The above picture is of a man sitting in his wheelchair outside and smiling.
Navigating Job Relocation with Limited Mobility: Tips for Job Seekers With Disabilities
Just over 21%
of people living with disabilities were employed in 2022. This
percentage is low compared to the 65% of people without disabilities who were
employed in the same year.
We can attribute the difference to the fact
that a lot of companies aren’t set up to support employees living with a range
of disabilities. Also, the lack of resources and support for workers with
disabilities seems to take certain jobs off the table, like those that require
relocation.
However, acknowledging the potential obstacles
in the process will help you prepare for them. And in preparing for them, you
can ensure they don’t stop you from moving to pursue better job opportunities.
Let’s explore some of the unique challenges
you might face when relocating for a job as a person living with a disability
and how to overcome them.
Finding
the Right Work Environment
As mentioned above, there are many workplaces
out there that can’t accommodate the needs of people living with different
disabilities as they deserve. It isn’t common to find workplaces that go beyond
adhering to the laws that protect employees with disabilities.
But they’re out there if you do the work to
find them. Make sure that relocating is worthwhile by securing a job that
provides the right work environment for you.
At the very least, employers are required to
provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. “These
modifications enable an individual with a disability to have an equal
opportunity not only to get a job, but successfully perform their job tasks to
the same extent as people without disabilities,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
If you need accommodations, identify yourself
as a person with a disability to your hiring manager and start a discussion
about your needs. Strive to secure a position in the right work environment
before you move.
Choosing
the Best Place to Relocate
You need to find the best place to relocate
much like you did with finding the best place to work. Identify what you need
in a home considering your accessibility needs. Determine what you want in a
neighborhood. Consider where your new job is located as well.
Then, work with a real estate agent to find
the best home, apartment, or condo based on your needs. It’s best to visit the
place in person ahead of relocating to ensure it’s right for you. This will
require extra planning if you’re moving across state lines. But it’s especially
important in this regard.
If you secure a position before you move, you
may be able to ask your new employer to assist you with finding a new home and
some of the other costs associated with relocating.
A relocation package, for example, helps make different aspects of relocating easier. The company connects you with a packing and moving service. They may also help you sell your current home and provide you with temporary housing until you find something permanent. This is huge for employees with disabilities because as mentioned above, it can be hard to find a home that accommodates all of your unique needs.
Set up a time with your new employer to have a
phone discussion about a relocation package or if they reimburse any relocation
expenses. Let them know what you need, even if they say they don’t offer
assistance of this sort. You’d be surprised at how many employers are willing
to compromise and help.
Guaranteeing
Reliable Transportation
13.4 million Americans aged 18 to 64 and 11.2
million aged 65 and older self-reported travel-limiting disabilities. Getting
to where they need to go is challenging, if doable at all. So, they have to
stay home more often than not.
If this is your experience but you’re still
set on relocating for a job, you must find a way to successfully navigate what
hinders you from traveling.
For example, if you had access to an accessible car with the modifications needed to
accommodate your disability, you’d be able to drive it to your new
home and back and forth to work when you get there.
Evaluate your needs first, like if you use a
wheelchair and whether you prefer side or rear vehicle entry. After that,
decide on a new, used, or certified pre-owned vehicle with your budget and
accessibility needs in mind.
Then, price out the modifications you need.
For instance, an emergency brake extension will cost you $20-$50. A
power-operated lift could cost you upwards of $3000. And a manually operated
ramp will range from $125-$600.
You’ll also want to educate yourself on the
process of implementing your modifications from start to finish to gauge how
long it will take. You want your car to be ready to go when you’re ready to
relocate. So, starting modifications early enough is essential.
Prioritize reliable transportation so that
relocating and getting to your new job is seamless.
The Move
Itself
The move itself might be hardest on a person
living with a disability. There’s just so much involved, including:
●
Decluttering and packing;
●
Unpacking once you get to your new
place;
●
Getting the keys to your new
place;
●
Hiring movers or asking family and
friends to help;
●
Turning on utilities and internet
at your new place.
If you have limited mobility, in particular,
getting the above and all else involved with moving done can be frustrating.
You can’t lift heavy boxes or move things without risking injury. If you’re
using a wheelchair or another mobility aid, the chaotic,
everything-is-everywhere-moving environment isn’t safe or maneuverable.
Moving with limited mobility is much easier
when you plan for your accessibility needs, first and foremost. Decluttering
and downsizing are helpful too. You won’t have to pack and haul as many boxes
when you narrow your things down to solely what you need, reducing the strain
on your body.
Hire help for your move as well. You can’t do
it all. So, don’t try to. Hire movers who can help you with packing,
transporting, and unpacking your belongings.
Conclusion
When you’re living with a disability,
relocating for a job may not seem feasible. There may be obstacles, but they
don’t have to stand between you and a good job opportunity. Prepare for the
process with your disability and unique needs at the forefront.