Disability Services

What can a DRC do for you?

The Disability Resource Coordinator (DRC) is your disability employment expert! The DRC is committed to improving effective and meaningful participation in of persons with disabilities in the workforce system. Contact the Career Center to get connected to disability services and resources.

A Disability Resource Coordinator assists employers and jobseekers by:

  • Providing consultation with employers on reasonable accommodations

  • Identifying community resources targeted to people with disabilities

  • Bringing the resources of the Career Center to community events

  • Coordinating staff training on disability related topics

  • Coordinating public workshops on disclosure, reasonable accommodations, work incentives, and jobseekers’ rights and responsibilities

  • Outreach to in-school and out-of-school youths with disabilities

  • Guidance on SSI and SSDI work incentive programs to help jobseekers maintain benefits

Benefits Advisement

Disability Benefits Counseling Services provide guidance about available options toward reaching the employment and financial goals specific to every beneficiary. Disability Benefits Counseling helps the beneficiary make informed choices about work and how to communicate effectively with SSA.

Disability Benefits Counseling Services can help when you:

  •  Plan to start or return to work
  •  Plan to accept or seek a higher paying job
  •  Plan to start your own business
  •  Concerned about stopping work; or
  •  Have questions about how work will affect your disability benefits or any other public benefit you receive

Disability Benefits Counseling is available to beneficiaries who are receiving SSI, SSDI, CDB, and DWB. These services are free of charge and there is never a cost to the beneficiary for services provided.

Ticket to Work Program

Ticket to Work connects anyone ages 18-64, who receive Disability Insurance and/or SSI, with free employment services to help you decide if working is right for you, prepare for work, find a job, or maintain success while you are working. Participants can receive career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, job placement, and training from authorized Ticket to Work service providers.

Meet Ben! An Introduction to Ticket to Work

This Ticket to Work video provides an easy-to-understand overview of the Ticket program for beneficiaries. The video also serves as an additional resource for service providers to educate beneficiaries by explaining the key benefits of participation in Ticket to Work.

More Resources

AskJAN - The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues. JAN helps employers recognize the valuable contributions that qualified workers with disabilities add to the workforce by providing accommodation solutions, trusted strategies, and practical guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

AskEARN - The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) offers information and resources to help organizations of all sizes recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities; build inclusive workplace cultures; and meet diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) goals. 

ACCES-VR - Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) assists individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development.

Tompkins/Cortland 211 - 211 connects people in need with services designed to address that need.  Callers are referred to service providers according to their situation. 211 may follow up with callers, when appropriate, to ensure that contact was made and to offer further assistance if needed. 

Department of Labor Disability Resources - People with disabilities need good jobs too, and several U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) agencies assist people with disabilities in seeking meaningful work and succeeding once on the job. DOL also advises employers on effective strategies for recruiting and retaining qualified people with disabilities, as well as educates federal agencies and federal contractors and sub-contractors about their obligations related to affirmative action and nondiscrimination in hiring.

The DRC is funded by the New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (NY SCION) initiative from the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). NY SCION builds upon the work of four rounds of federal Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) pilot funding and the Disability Program Navigator before it.

Creating Pathways to Better Careers and Economic Growth

Back to top