Employers

Why hire people with disabilities?

Expand your market

One in four Americans live with a disability. With an estimated $200 billion in discretionary income, this population—as well as their family and friends appreciate businesses that recognize and accommodate those with disabilities.

Gain a competitive edge

Companies cite high levels of motivation and attention to work quality as reasons why employees with disabilities contribute to business results. People with disabilities are innovators, community leaders and successful in businesses of all types.

Reduce turnover

A studyPDF opens a new window by the Institute of Corporate Productivity found that employees with disabilities are dependable, engaged, and contribute to higher productivity and lower absenteeism.

Increase your talent pool

Finding qualified, committed employees can sometimes be difficult. People with disabilities offer a ready pool of ideal workers. Proven problem-solvers, they demonstrate creativity and adaptability in confronting challenges and getting jobs done.

Qualify for financial incentives

The federal Work Opportunity Tax Creditopens a new window and Disabled Access Credit are available to employers that hire people who traditionally have faced barriers to employment. In addition, the Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction encourages businesses to remove office and transportation obstacles that limit the mobility of persons with disabilities. Learn more about financial incentives available to Nevada businesses.

Enhance your company culture

Employees with disabilities help companies create diverse cultures that attract desirable talent pools. Demonstrate social responsibility by creating an inclusive workplace and hiring people with disabilities, including youth, maturing workers and veterans.

business assistance program

VR Nevada offers a full-service business assistance program for business owners and employers that helps them gain a critical advantage in today’s highly competitive marketplace. We provide professional consultation services to assist business owners and employers in developing short and long term strategies regarding their varying disability-related issues. We also help individuals with disabilities maximize their employment opportunities by helping them develop the skills that today’s businesses are seeking.

We make it easy

Our no-cost services are designed to aid you in staff education and finding the right match to fill your staffing needs, including the following:

  • Free assistance with recruitment and job matching.
  • Pre-screened and qualified applicants.
  • Pre-employment training programs.
  • Employee matches based on your business needs.
  • Soft skill development.
  • Customized employee training strategies.
  • Access to on-the-job training funds.
  • Reliable technical assistance and referrals.
  • Quality assurance through follow-along employer and employee support for the first three months.

We offer staffing solutions in many industries including:

health care and medical services

information technology

tourism, gaming and entertainment

logistics and operations

manufacturing

retail and customer service

Workforce integration and training

Hiring employees with disabilities allows businesses to demonstrate their commitment to workforce diversity, equity and inclusion. It also enables entities that receive federal funding comply with federal requirements related to employment of people with disabilities. We can assist employers with no-cost training on a number of topics related to the successful integration of people with disabilities into their companies, including:

  • Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • How people with disabilities contribute to business success and a safe workplace.
  • “Why are younger employees asking for accommodations?” Navigating new perspectives on workplace inclusivity.
  • Helping Nevada colleges, cities, and counties meet federal requirements for hiring people with disabilities.

Our staff is available to meet with your hiring department to explain how we actively help recruit, onboard and retain employees that match your business needs. We also work with employers to identify and provide the assistive equipment and software needed by some workers with disabilities.

Tax and other benefits

Visit the IRS websiteopens a new window for more information on tax benefits for businesses that employ people with disabilities.

Common credits and deductions

Disabled Access Credit

  • Tax credit for 50% of eligible expenditures over $250 up to $10,500 a year (tax bill reduced to $5,000).
  • Provides a nonrefundable credit for small businesses that incur expenditures for the purpose of providing access to persons with disabilities.
  • An eligible small business earns $1 million or less or has no more than 30 full-time employees in the previous year; they may take the credit each and every year they incur access expenditures.

Barrier Removal Tax Deduction

  • Tax deduction that encourages businesses of any size to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the mobility of persons with disabilities and the elderly.
  • Businesses may claim a deduction of up to $15,000 a year for qualified expenses for items that normally must be capitalized.

Work Opportunity Credit

  • Tax credit up to 40% of the first $6,000 of first-year wages of a new employee if the employee is part of a “targeted group.”
  • The credit is available to the employer once the employee has worked for at least 120 hours or 90 days.
  • For veterans with a service-related disability, who were hired after May 25, 2007, the first-year wages taken into account is increased to $12,000.

ADA

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in order to enable them to perform essential job functions. The specific accommodations vary based on the individual’s needs and the nature of the job, but here are some general examples:

  1. Assistive Technology: Providing or allowing the use of assistive technology, such as screen readers, magnification software, or speech recognition software for employees with visual or cognitive impairments.
  2. Flexible Work Schedule: Allowing for flexible work hours or alternative work arrangements to accommodate medical appointments, treatment, or other disability-related needs.
  3. Job Restructuring: Modifying the duties and responsibilities of a job to make it more feasible for an employee with a disability. This could involve reallocating non-essential tasks or adjusting work hours.
  4. Telecommuting: Allowing employees to work from home or another remote location if the nature of the job permits, providing greater flexibility for individuals with disabilities.
  5. Modified Equipment: Adapting or modifying equipment to accommodate an employee’s specific needs, such as providing ergonomic chairs, adjustable desks, or specialized tools.
  6. Sign Language Interpreters: Providing sign language interpreters or other communication aids for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  7. Accessible Communication: Ensuring that communication methods, such as written materials or company announcements, are provided in accessible formats, such as large print or electronic formats.
  8. Medical Leave: Granting additional unpaid leave or modifying the leave policy to accommodate an employee’s medical needs or disability-related treatments.
  9. Job Coaching or Mentoring: Providing job coaching or mentoring to assist employees in learning job tasks and improving job performance.

These are just some examples, and the specific accommodations needed will vary depending on the individual and their unique circumstances. It’s important for employers to engage in an interactive process with employees to identify and implement effective accommodations that allow them to perform the essential functions of their jobs.

If an employee or employer needs help understanding or implementing reasonable accommodations, they can reach out to VRNevada for help.

Success Stories

Devin Belcher

Devin Belcher

Devin Belcher applied for services from the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) in May 2021. Devin was a graduate from Canyon Springs High School.  Through counseling and guidance, Devin was encouraged to...

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Christianna Faith

Christianna Faith

Christianna Faith, or simply “Faith” as she prefers to be called, was a senior at Douglas High School when she learned about Vocational Rehabilitation services through VR outreach programs offered at her high school.  Upon...

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Eugenio Chavez

Eugenio Chavez

Eugenio Chavez is a young individual who has been gradually losing his vision due to Early Onset Retinal Degeneration. When he first came to the Bureau of Services to the Blind (BSB) on 04/05/2018, his vision was Vacc...

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Success Stories

Devin Belcher

Devin Belcher

Devin Belcher applied for services from the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) in May 2021. Devin was a graduate from Canyon Springs High School.  Through counseling and guidance, Devin...

read more

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