Veterans Campus to Careers Toolkit

For student veterans moving into the workforce
8
An employee who is a veteran adjusts a high-tech machine in a lab

Real Life on the Job

Working with others as a veteran with a disability

What Do You Know?

Question 1:

Veterans with disabilities should talk to their employers about their disabilities.
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Answer: False

Not necessarily. Every veteran, every disability, every situation and every workplace is different. If possible, ask other veterans with disabilities how they’ve dealt with this.

Question 2:

You can never know how disability-friendly a workplace is until you start working there.
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Answer: False

There are ways to find out whether an employer has a positive workplace for individuals and veterans with disabilities. Talk to people. Look up the workplace on the list of disability-friendly workplaces. Check if it has a diversity/inclusion statement and whether disability is included. If possible, ask people who work there.

Question 3:

Looking for another job might be an option if you find yourself in a disability-hostile workplace.
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Answer: True

But, when possible, try other options first.

Question 4:

An Employee Assistance Program can be helpful in dealing with a negative work environment.
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Answer: True

If you feel you are in a disability-negative work environment, consider using an Employee Assistance Program if there is one at your workplace. An EAP might be able to help you work through your options.

Question 5:

5. Workers with disabilities need to accept that they can never be fully part of their workplaces.
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Answer: False

There are many workplaces where the contributions of workers with disabilities are not seen as marginal. If your workplace is not one of them, start to consider your options and seek support for whatever option you choose.

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