ICD (re)Releases Report on Creating a Pipeline of Individuals with Disabilities for Employment in the Technology Sector
Partners:
ICD- Institute for Career Development, New York Institute of Technology, CUNY Labor Market Information Service
Funded by:
The New York City Economic Development Corporation
What’s Being Addressed:
Opportunities for individuals with disabilities (IWDs) to obtain both training and employment in the technology sector are scant, despite growing talent needs and shortages in qualified candidates. The purpose of our research was to identify optimal pathways for moving IWDs through well-designed training programs to well-paid and welcoming environments for employment in the technology sector.
Key Paths to Improvement:
Adopt performance-based interviewing approaches for IWDs seeking tech jobs.
Remove degree requirements for positions where skills can be obtained through vocational training and industry-recognized certification/credentialing programs.
Include disability as an aspect of diversity and inclusion policy and implement audits such as the Disability Equality Index survey to ensure policy becomes practice.
Develop new and innovative entry pathways for high demand job openings, such as paid internship programs and other “try-out” models that allow hiring managers to directly assess the work performance of IWDs.
Build capacity for serving IWDs by fostering closer collaboration between tech training providers and training providers who specialize in working with IWDs.
Visit https://www.icdnyc.org/donate to support our participants today!