The quiet young man who carefully bags my groceries at the local market has Down syndrome. The food court tables at the mall are kept clean by a cheerful, helpful, energetic gentleman who is paraplegic and in a wheelchair. Do their employers know something you don’t know about the advantages of having workers with disabilities on your payroll?
In a 2015survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics，残疾人的失业率为10.7％，比上一年略有增加。这高于当前没有残疾人的失业率（5.1％）。很大一部分残疾人（82.5％）根本不在劳动力中，而没有残疾人的个人为35％。
Hiring workers with disabilities
Tax credits and other incentives可以为有兴趣雇用残疾人的企业提供帮助。雇主报告说，他们的残疾人雇员的营业额比其他雇员要低得多，而且出勤率更好。这是您应该知道的几点：
1. Small business owners who employ workers with disabilities may qualify for theDisabled Access Credit. The Disabled Access Credit provides a non-refundable credit for small businesses that incur expenditures for the purpose of accommodating employees. There are limitations to this credit. See the IRS for more information. Small business owners who qualify for the credit would need to file Form 8826 Disabled Access Credit with the IRS. The Barrier Removal Tax Deduction can be used the same year as the Disabled Access Credit.
2. Another tax credit available to employers is the Work Opportunity Credit. This allows eligible employers to claim up to 40% of the first $6,000 earned during the first year of employment. There is more information about theWork Opportunity Crediton the IRS website.
3. Read theAmericans with Disabilities Act: A Primer for Small Business, which describes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it applies to small businesses. The ADA is a federal civil rights law designed to prevent discrimination and enable individuals with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of society, and applies to businesses with 15 or more employees.
4. The Americans with Disabilities Act is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to theEEOC, employers covered by the ADA must ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to:
- 申请并从事合格的工作，
- be promoted once they are working,
- access the benefits and privileges of employment offered to other employees, and
- not be harassed because of the disability.
5. Employers need to know thedo’s and don’ts in the hiring processas they apply to people with disabilities. For example, during an interview, you can’t ask questions about a disability, how a person became disabled, or the use of medication, among other questions.
6. You must respect the confidentiality of an applicant or an employee. This can include requests for reasonable accommodations, as well as storage of medical information separate from the person’s regular personnel file.
7.有在线资源nd programs to help employers找到合格的候选人when they want to hire individuals with disabilities. For example,Project SEARCHgives workplace experience to high seniors who have disabilities to help them be successful employees. Look for this program in your area. A job coach may be available to help you and the new employee make useful accommodations.
上面的失业统计数据是指愿意并且能够在与其技能相匹配的工作中有效地工作的个人。作为没有残疾人的劳动力人员，许多残疾人失业的人是失业者的两倍。人们无法找到工作的人感到无生产力，我们的税收通常需要支持。
从2001年开始，布什总统的New Freedom Initiativecharges the ADA with the task of partnering with small businesses to find employment for individuals with disabilities. Withupdated policies，可访问的教育，计算机经验，在职培训或教练以及工作场所住宿，雇主更容易填补残疾人工人的公开职位。
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Article updated twice since its original post date 6/11/2011.