By Guest Blogger Paula Reuben Vieillet, President of Employment Options Inc. 

As the holiday season approaches, you may start noticing 'seasonal' job openings, typically available in shopping malls and retail establishments in your community. This is a good time to gain work experience and explore the types of jobs that may suit your needs.

Here are a few reasons a seasonal job may help you as you look for permanent employment, including options for working from home during the holidays.

Gain work experience

In the weeks before the prime holiday season, many companies need more employees than during the rest of the year. Because they're hiring a large number of employees quickly, your interest in a position may be more important than your work history. 

Each year, more companies hire for seasonal work-from-home positions. These jobs include: customer service, sales, tech support (various levels), call center representatives, video gaming specialists, healthcare support, outbound telemarketing, order taking/review, and more.

Build your resume

Seasonal positions may help bridge employment gaps on your resume. They show proven experience and that you are ready, willing and able to succeed. They also help you to develop new or strengthen existing skills through training.

Training programs for seasonal positions are often short – sometimes less than a week and many times only a few days. You're usually expected to learn a very specific task for the season — such as packing trucks, stocking shelves, answering customer service calls, or taking orders over the phone. With new or enhanced skills, you can update your resume.

Find out if working from home works for you

Working at home takes self-discipline and a proper work environment. Seasonal work allows you to test your level of comfort setting up a work space in your home and how it affects others living with you. The key is that seasonal employment is temporary so it allows you to get a feel for what it takes to work virtually. Our blog post, Make Working from Home Work for You, can give you a look into what working from home is like and if it might be a good fit for you.

Land a permanent position

Seasonal work lets you show your employer your skills, abilities, work ethic and your reliability — potentially making it easier for them to hire a seasonal worker for a permanent position later. It saves them time, money and effort looking for new applicants.  

This transition from seasonal to permanent is easier for the employee too because you've already proven that you’re a good fit for the position. A true win-win situation!

Seasonal work and Ticket to Work

While you may be able to find seasonal work in the community by visiting local stores, working with a Ticket to Work (Ticket) program service provider may help you find other opportunities, including work-from-home jobs. Once you start working in a seasonal position, make sure that you remember to report your wages to avoid a benefit overpayment.

Social Security's Ticket program supports employment for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The program is free and voluntary. Eligible people with disabilities can find a path to employment by working with service providers, who help with resume writing, interview tips and transitional support.

About the Author

Paula Reuben Vieillet is President of Employment Options Inc., a Social Security Employment Network for the Ticket to Work program. Her company, which specializes in Work at Home employment for those receiving SSDI or SSI, assists Ticketholders in 47 states with free job placement and career services and also offers community job placement.

Learn more

You can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

By Shelia Newman, President of New Editions Consulting, Inc.

I started a business without the benefit of a formal mentor, but I did have 25 years of experience in my field. I had cultivated a network of experts; watched and learned from co-workers, supervisors, and business owners of the four firms where I worked; and read business and management books as I was deciding to start out on my own.

I was better prepared (and maybe older) than most entrepreneurs. Still, I struggled to learn all I needed to know about the complexities of government contracting. Without the support of my informal mentors — the experts I had met along the way — I don't think I would have succeeded. I remember thinking that if I ever had the opportunity, I'd be a mentor one day and spare an entrepreneur the difficulties I faced.

My first mentoring experience

I became a mentor quite by accident. I attended a lunch and met a young veteran with a disability who had started a company to win government contracts. I offered him subcontracts to get him started, but he had not yet won his own contracts. 

He and I both learned a great deal from our relationship. He continues to learn the business through his subcontracts, hoping to one day win that first government contract. I've learned insight into the skills, characteristics, and experiences that help entrepreneurs.

People start businesses for many reasons: ambition, a credible idea, frustration with current employment, or exasperation of looking and not finding a suitable job.

Self-employment offers many benefits, like getting to make all the decisions and being your own boss. But it can be difficult making every single decision and staying motivated to get tasks done. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), more than half of small businesses fail in their first year, and 95% fail within the first 5 years.

Having a mentor to offer you advice, share experience and help with those tough decisions may increase your chances of success. Learning from my first mentoring experience, I have been better prepared to mentor young entrepreneurs. I developed a list of questions I ask them:

• Do you have experience? Working for someone else allows you to make your mistakes while someone is paying you to learn the business! You can also learn from a volunteer position.
• Are you disciplined? Working independently without a boss to direct you or set deadlines might be harder than you think. It takes a vast amount of effort to start and maintain a business.
• Do you have money and resources to pay your bills while you are getting started? Inadequate cash reserves is one of the common causes of failure. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or can become eligible for it, you may qualify for a Work Incentive known as Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS), which allows you to set aside money and resources to help achieve a particular work goal, including self-employment.
• Have you done your research? In addition to having worked in the business you want to start, you must know your audience and how to price your services or product correctly.

A mentor may help

If you can answer the questions above and still want to start a business, find a mentor who can offer you the time and commitment to help you succeed. A good mentor will offer you:

• Expertise: Writing business plans, understanding the market, knowing how to price services and products, setting aside money for cash flow, and knowing tax, license, and insurance requirements are all things a mentor can help you understand.
• Resources: A mentor will help you understand that you can't do everything yourself and may guide you to banks, accountants, accessible website developers, marketing specialists, etc.
• Contacts: Knowing people in the field and sharing those contacts is a critical benefit a mentor can provide.
• Direction: After you've started the business, you'll soon ask: Now what? If successful, you'll need to learn how to handle your growth. If your business is not doing as well as you hoped, a mentor can help you assess the reasons and get on track.
• Reassurance: Supportive guidance can lead to self-confidence, which is essential for business success. A mentor can help you see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow your business.

If you are a college student or recent graduate, you can find a mentor through the U.S. Business Leadership Network's Rising Leaders Mentoring Program. The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) also provides free small business start-up advice.

About the writer

Shelia Newman, who was recently inducted into the 2017 Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame, is President of New Editions Consulting, Inc., which is a National Organization on Disability (NOD) 2017 Leading Disability Employer. Ms. Newman has more than 25 years of experience in Federal government contracting, focusing on disability issues. Ms. Newman earned a B.S. in Journalism and a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is on the Board of Directors of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities and is on the Board of Directors of her local Chamber of Commerce.

Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work.

The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

You can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Career fairs are an excellent way to start or advance your job search. They give you the chance to meet potential employers and learn about different job opportunities, including openings you can apply for. Check out one of the following career fairs being held in person and online this month. 

You can also read Making the Most of a Virtual Career Fair for tips on how to prepare for an event and leave a strong impression with recruiters.

Hire Our Heroes Virtual Career Fair (Virtual)

Join Hire Our Heroes 12 – 3 p.m. ET for this virtual event.

• November 8: Register now!

City Career Fair (In person)

City Career Fair brings some of the most well-known and respected employers to cities near you. Be sure to check them out the next time they are in your area.

• November 8: Long Beach, CA

Veteran Recruiting (Virtual)

Veteran Recruiting's Veteran Recruitment Center regularly hosts virtual job fairs with employers seeking to hire veterans.

• November 9: Veterans Day Virtual Career Fair
• November 16: Comcast NBCUniversal Virtual Career Fair

Choice Career Fairs (In person)

Choice Career Fairs is an organizer of job fair and career fair events throughout the United States.

• November 8: Jacksonville, FL
• November 9: King of Prussia, PA
• November 15: Mesa, AZ
• November 15: San Francisco, CA
• November 16: Chicago, IL

Coast to Coast Career Fairs (In Person)

Coast to Coast Career Fairs holds numerous in person career fairs across the country each month.

• November 8: Newark, NJ
• November 13: Raleigh, NC
• November 14: Austin, TX 

RecruitMilitary (In person and Virtual)

RecruitMilitary seeks to tap into the extensive talent pool that veterans represent for employers.

• November 21: National Virtual Career Fair for Veterans
• November 28: Eastern Region Virtual Career Fair for Veterans                                    

Clearance Jobs Security Clearance Virtual Career Fair (Virtual)

This virtual career fair is open to students attending the listed universities and colleges in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States.

• November 29: Register now!

About Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket program, visit www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

We recently caught up with Marty, who was featured in a Ticket to Work (Ticket) program success story. Marty was a self-employed contractor and carpenter. Specializing in building new homes, he enjoyed helping people turn their dream homes into a reality. Marty holds a degree in construction management, but always preferred the physical, hands-on aspect of his home-building business.

But in December 2006, he was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. Even with treatment, the cancer traveled through his muscles and bones, and in 2007, doctors had to amputate Marty's arm. Marty began receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and as he regained his health, he started thinking about his path back to work.

With the help of the Ticket program, Marty found a job working with a large building restoration company and no longer receives SSDI. Marty's been with the same company for more than 4 years. You can read more about Marty's path to financial independence in his Ticket to Work success story.

When we chatted with Marty about his path to financial independence, he offered insight on how you can use your work experience to return to work in a new role.

Marty's Advice

Highlight what you know: "I was in a more hands-on role before. I went back into the same industry, but a different part of it. Now I'm a project manager and estimator for a bigger company. I give the orders and let someone else do the hands-on stuff." Because of Marty's experience running his own construction business, he found that it didn't take him long to retrain for his new job. "It was basically what I had done my whole working life, just in management."  

Consider your experience or education: Before finding his current job, he had considered taking design classes to learn more about computer-aided drafting (CAD) drawings used in designing buildings. "It would have taken another 2 years to get the degree that I needed," Marty recalls. "So I thought, why not get my toes back in the water, but in management." If you're considering additional education before returning to work, an Employment Network (EN) may be able to help you find training programs or help you find a different path that doesn't require the time or cost of more classes.

Learn on the job: Once Marty started working again, he realized how important using new technology was to his role. He became more comfortable using text and email for communications and using a computer to calculate estimates and keep projects organized. "I also had training courses through work, paid for by my employer."

The Ticket program can help: Marty says the counselor he worked with at his EN, Certified Rehabilitation Services, still checks in with him to see how he's doing. But in the beginning, she was able to show him how to put himself back into the job market. "Everything is online now. The last time I had to put together a resume, you wrote it on the typewriter and sent it out. So she taught me how to properly put my resume together and get it to employers."

And Marty has one more piece of advice for jobseekers:

"Don't be discouraged, and don't let anyone tell you or convince you that you can't do it. You may just need to figure out a new way to achieve your goal."

About Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

You can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

On Wednesday, September 27, more than 300 people attended our Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinar, Ticket to Work: Work Incentives for People who Receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). During the webinar, our guests from Social Security talked about SSDI Work Incentives, the benefits of work, and how to open and use a my Social Security account.

Our attendees asked many great questions, and today we're sharing answers to the top questions. Read on to learn more about Work Incentives, then head to the WISE archives to watch past webinars and learn more.

What is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a Work Incentive for people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) that allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. During this timeframe, you will receive full SSDI benefits no matter how much money you earn from work — as long as your work activity is reported to Social Security and you have a disabling impairment. 

Social Security counts a month as a TWP month if earnings are more than $840 (in 2017) OR if you work more than 80 hours in self-employment. The work does not have to be for the same employer or in consecutive months. Once you work all 9 months within a 60-month period, your TWP is complete. If you completed 9 months, but not in a 60-month period, months that you worked outside of that time do not count toward your TWP.

To find out how many TWP months you have used in the last 60 months, you can use a report that Social Security produces called the Benefits Planning Query (BPQY). You can request a free BPQY report from Social Security or authorize your Employment Network or benefits counselor to request it. These reports verify the type of benefits you receive and the work incentives you have used. They also indicate what Social Security has on file for reported wages or earnings from self-employment.

When should I start reporting my wages or self-employment hours
to Social Security?

If you receive SSDI, you need to report any changes in work and earnings when:

• Work starts or stops
• Duties, hours, or pay changes
• You start or stop paying for disability-related items or services needed for work

Federal law requires Social Security to issue a receipt when they receive a report of work. Keep this receipt and a copy of the information you provide to Social Security in a safe place. 

Never assume that Social Security knows about your work or that another agency will report for you. Wage reporting is your responsibility, and it will help you to avoid overpayments.

What is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)?

Social Security uses the term "substantial gainful activity" (SGA) to describe a level of work activity and earnings and to help determine your eligibility for SSDI. Work is "substantial" if it involves doing significant physical or mental activities or a combination of both. Work activity does not need to be performed on a full-time basis to be substantial — part-time work may also be SGA. You meet SGA (for 2017) if you earn $1,170 per month if you are not blind, and $1,950 if you are blind. SGA doesn't affect your benefits during your TWP because your earnings are unlimited during this time.

Once you've completed the 9-month TWP, you'll enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this timeframe, you receive full benefit payments for months where gross earnings are below SGA level. Some Work Incentives, like Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE), may be deducted from your total earnings when Social Security considers if your earnings are SGA. Any month your earnings fall below SGA, you'll receive full benefits as long as you still have your disabling condition.

What is Ticket to Work?

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work.

The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

How can I learn more?

Each month, our WISE webinars share resources and tips to help people with disabilities find work and financial success. WISE webinars can help you stay informed about Ticket program information, hear about new and existing resources that may help as you consider work, and learn more about specific employment topics. Our next WISE webinar, Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and an ABLE Account, will take place on October 25, 3-4:30 p.m. ET. Register and attend today!

To learn more about the Ticket program, visit www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Have you heard about ABLE Accounts yet? An ABLE Account offers certain individuals with a disability a tax-free way to save for disability-related expenses. Today, we're sharing information that will help you when you're opening your ABLE account.

If you have a disability that began before age 26 and meets the eligibility criteria outlined in the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, you or a person legally authorized to act on your behalf may open and manage the account.

An ABLE Account allows you to save up to $14,000 per year of your own earnings from work, or with the help of contributions from family, friends, or an employer. Savings up to $100,000 do not affect public benefits at all!

Questions to Ask

To see whether your state is one of the 28 states with an ABLE program, visit the state review. A few states offer their program to in-state residents only, but most enroll individuals from other states. Before you open an ABLE Account, you may want to ask these questions:

• Am I a resident of this state? If not, is the enrollment open to non-residents?
• Is there a minimum contribution to open the account?
• Is there a monthly or annual fee?
• Is there a debit card available?

Information You'll Need

After you decide to open your account in a particular state, click on that state in the state review to access the program website and complete the online application. Some states, but not all, have an application you can download. You'll need the following information and to make a few choices:

1. Personal identification
   • Federal law requires name, street address, date of birth, and Social Security number, among other information, to verify your identity.
2. Identification of your disability
   • Some applications include various categories. If you don’t receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you will need general information about the disability you certify began before age 26.
3. Information about anyone authorized on your account
   • This includes your legal guardian, conservator, or someone with power of attorney, or a parent or guardian of an account holder who is a minor.
4. Banking information
5. Investment options
   • Choices may include multiple savings and investment options with varying degrees of investment risk.

In addition to deciding how your money will be invested, you will be asked whether you would like to establish recurring deposits or withdrawals. These may include payroll deposits from an employer or withdrawals for recurring expenses like rent or utilities.

For more information about the ABLE Act and ABLE programs, please visit the ABLE National Resource Center. To stay up-to-date with the latest state and local news, sign up for email notifications.

About Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

To learn more about the Ticket program, visit www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

By Shelia Newman, President, New Editions Consulting, Inc.

Every October, I download the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) poster produced by the Office of Disability Employment Policy and place copies around our office. We at New Editions appreciate this year's theme, Inclusion drives Innovation, because we clearly see the important role that the different perspectives of New Editions' employees who have disabilities play in the success of our company.

The NDEAM campaign delivers the message that hiring people with disabilities can be good for business and employers are taking note. According to the National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), the employment-to-population rate for working-age people with disabilities has increased for 18 consecutive months.

Now may be the time to look for a job or look for an advancement in your career, and one of the best ways you can do this is to work with a mentor.

Finding and keeping a good mentor can be valuable to career advancement. As a mentor, I have worked with young entrepreneurs with disabilities and helped them make connections and develop relationships that helped their businesses. I have also mentored several recent college graduates as they started their job searches and obtained employment. Their successes reflected their commitment to taking charge of their careers. If you are ready for that commitment, find yourself a mentor by:

• Asking family and friends to connect you to people they know who might serve as a mentor
• Contacting current or former employers (including volunteer jobs or internships) to see if they have mentoring programs or contact people in those companies that you admired
• Finding out if your college alma mater or any organization with which you are associated (church, club, community groups) have mentoring programs

A good mentor will commit time to help you:

• Determine your strengths
• Write a good resume
• Coach you on interview skills
• Teach you how to discuss your past experience
• Practice how to disclose your disability to employers
• Make contacts with potential employers
• Guide you to disability-friendly companies
• Encourage confidence
• Provide motivation and advice

One final piece of advice for you and your mentor: When you are looking for a job, explore opportunities at the 96 companies that were named the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion by the Disability Equality Index (DEI). The DEI is a joint initiative between the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and the USBLN, the leading national business-to-business network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Also search for opportunities at the 45 companies that earned the National Organization on Disability's (NOD) 2017 Leading Disability Employer Seal. NOD says these employers "are leading the way in disability hiring and encourage additional companies to tap into the many benefits of hiring talent with disabilities."

I personally find mentoring rewarding. My mentees have told me that my mentoring helped them gain confidence and most have found jobs or started their own businesses. Parents have expressed their gratitude to me when I helped my mentees transition from college to work. While rewarding, it is time consuming for both the mentor and the mentee. Make sure you are ready for that commitment. If you are, find your mentor and accelerate your employment search and advance your career.

About Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

To learn more about the Ticket program, visit www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

By Zach Baldwin, Director of Outreach, American Association of People with Disabilities

The month of October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities. We can use this time to educate employers and the public about the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of the skills and talents of people with disabilities, too. October is also the time when disability advocates and businesses participate in Disability Mentoring Day (DMD). DMD is a large-scale national effort coordinated by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to promote career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through hands-on career exploration and ongoing mentoring relationships. This program typically occurs on the third Wednesday of October, coinciding with NDEAM. Participating in DMD is a great way for employers to express their commitment to disability inclusion while helping students and job seekers with disabilities explore potential career opportunities. The success of DMD relies largely on the network of volunteer DMD Coordinators across the country who organize events and connect local businesses to job seekers and students with disabilities in their area. AAPD also works with several of our corporate partners to support their efforts as DMD hosts.

Mentoring has the potential to influence students and job seekers with disabilities by increasing independent living skills, enhancing self-esteem and motivation, increasing interest in continuing education and in having a job.

DMD events take many different forms around the country depending on the participating students and employers. DMD events can include:

• Resume workshops
• Mock interviews
• Job shadowing
• Office and facility tours
• Roundtable discussions with employees
• Project management activities

Some DMD Coordinators even organize activities over the course of a week. Some businesses participating in DMD use that engagement as a pipeline to recruit qualified candidates to participate in their internal internship or fellowship programs, which also creates a pipeline to employment.

There is a lot of flexibility to organize a DMD event as long as it meets 2 objectives:

1. Helps the participating students and job seekers with disabilities learn more about potential employment opportunities and develops connections to the local business community.
2. Counteracts unconscious biases, myths, and stereotypes held by employers to make them more comfortable with disability and more likely to hire employees with disabilities in the future.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) within the U.S. Department of Labor has a host of NDEAM resources and ideas for employers, educators and youth service professionals, associations and unions, disability-related organizations, and federal agencies to help celebrate disability inclusion in the workplace. You can learn more about DMD, sign up to be a volunteer coordinator, or find an event in your area by visiting the AAPD website.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 56 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. Learn more at www.aapd.com.

About the writer

Zach Baldwin serves as the Director of Outreach for AAPD. He initially joined the organization in 2012 as a Development Associate and has worked with AAPD in various roles since then.

As the Director of Outreach for AAPD, Zach manages communications, programs, and special projects. On the communications end, this entails social media interaction, email engagement, and press inquiries. Current AAPD programs under Zach's purview include the Summer Internship Program for students with disabilities, the REV UP Campaign, Disability Mentoring Day, the Disability Rights Storytellers Program, the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarships, and the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Leadership Awards.

Zach graduated from American University in May 2014 with a double-major in Political Science and Sociology and a certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies.

Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work.

The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket program, visit www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool. 

For more than 70 years, October has marked the celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year's NDEAM theme, Inclusion Drives Innovation, recognizes the important role that differences play in the workforce. With several million people with disabilities receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSI and SSDI) each month — many of whom want to work — some businesses are accessing this untapped market through the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program.

Join us this month to celebrate NDEAM and start on your path toward employment and financial independence.

Ticket to Work: a product of innovative thinking

In the 1990s, only half of 1 percent of people receiving disability benefits were leaving the disability rolls due to work and earnings. Concerns over this, along with a growing interest that many community-based service providers had in helping beneficiaries return to work, led to the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.

Today, the Ticket program helps to create a more inclusive workforce by supporting career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The program helps beneficiaries move toward financial independence through employment.

Read about individuals' journeys in our Ticket to Work success stories. In these stories, you'll meet individuals who found the support they needed through Ticket program service providers. Their service providers helped them learn more about Social Security Work Incentives, find job training, build and strengthen their resumes, and  find job opportunities. Through their stories, you can learn how the Ticket program can help guide you along your path to employment and financial independence.

Inclusion drives innovation

In addition to the benefits that work offers you – financial independence, a sense of community, learning and using new skills and talents – inclusive workplaces also benefit employers. Larger pools of employees, diversity, unique experiences and perspectives, and insights can lead to better problem solving.

Employers and employees have found that reasonable accommodations can help make the workplace a more inclusive and productive environment. And while accommodations can have a high impact, employers have found that most accommodations come with low costs. While most reasonable accommodations cost nothing, employers have found that providing accommodations helps them keep valuable employees, increase productivity, and improve company morale.

As you consider and look for work, learn more about reasonable accommodations and how to request them.

Helpful tips along the way

Whether you're planning to return to work or trying work for the first time, our blog posts and social media can help you learn about:

• Building your job skills and experience
• Impressing potential employers
• Government hiring and internship programs
• Where and when to attend virtual and in-person career fairs
• Reasonable accommodations during the job application process and transition to work

You can also join us each month for our monthly Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinars! Each webinar features a different topic and expert advice on Work Incentives and other employment topics.

Every October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Kick off the month by attending a career fair virtually or in person!

Career fairs are an excellent way to start or advance your job search. You can meet potential employers and learn about different job opportunities, including openings you can apply for. Check out one of the following career fairs being held in person and online this month. 

City Career Fair (In person)

City Career Fair brings some of the most well-known and respected employers to cities near you. Be sure to check them out the next time they are in your area.

• October 11: Phoenix, AZ
• October 25: Dallas, TX

RecruitMilitary (In Person and Virtual)

RecruitMilitary seeks to tap into the extensive talent pool that veterans represent for employers.

• October 5: Atlanta Veterans Job Fair
• October 12: Baltimore Veterans Job Fair
• October 24: Western Region Virtual Career Fair of Veterans
• October 26: Charlotte Veterans Job Fair

Veteran Recruiting (Virtual)

Veteran Recruiting's Veteran Recruitment Center regularly host virtual job fairs with employers seeking to hire veterans.

• October 18: Disabled Veterans Virtual Career Fair

Southeast & Southwest Virtual Career Fair for Internships & Co-ops (Virtual)

This virtual career fair is open to students attending the listed universities and colleges in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States.

• October 24: Register now!

About Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

To learn more about the Ticket program, visit https://www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.