Many people are interested in working from home and today, we're sharing 4 tips to help you succeed!

1. Work from your home office. If you can, designate one room where you'll do your work. Try not to do anything else in that room. If you don't have the extra space, set up a desk or table that's dedicated to work.
2. Create a morning routine. It may be tempting to sleep in and stay in your pajamas all day, but believe it or not, doing this gets old after a while. A morning routine will help you prepare for work and set you on the path to a productive day.
3. Keep a schedule. It's important to maintain boundaries between your work and home life. If you have a home office, shut that door at the end of the day. Close your computer and walk away. Decompressing after work can be difficult when you're at home, but setting a schedule helps you maintain that boundary so you can switch your attention from work to home.
4. Stay connected. You may take advantage of videoconferencing to stay connected at work. It may feel strange at first, but with a little practice, you'll get used to interacting with your colleagues this way.

There's plenty of advice about working from home out there. You can do a quick internet search if you'd like more ideas, or look at Make Working from Home Work for You.

How can the Ticket to Work program help?

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

Ticket program service providers — Employment Networks (EN) and state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies — can help you determine if working from home would be a good fit for you. They can help identify work from home opportunities and polish your resume for those positions. If you're already working with an EN or VR agency, and you've started a remote position, your service provider can help you ease into that new role.

National Volunteer Month shines light on the importance of volunteering and the important contributions that volunteers make when they lend their time and talent to causes dear to them. While volunteering is a great way to invest in your community, it's also a great way to invest in your career. As a volunteer, you can gain valuable workplace experience and skills and expand your network, all of which can boost your employment prospects.

Finding and applying for a volunteer position is a lot like finding and applying for a job. Plan and think about the kind of workplace experience you'd like to gain from volunteering. For example, is your goal to improve your people skills, also known as soft skills? Do you want to explore what it would be like to work in a particular field, or to promote causes that you're passionate about?

Then, put your search and networking skills to use to find a volunteer position that will meet your career goals using online sources such as:

• Volunteermatch
• Idealist
• All for Good
• Create the Good

You can find also Federal government-sponsored volunteer programs at the Corporation for National and Community Service, Ready (which focuses on disaster relief) and Volunteer.gov (a free, fast, and efficient way to connect volunteers with natural and cultural resources agencies). Some of the sites we've listed have volunteer opportunities that can be done virtually from your home.

After you've visited various websites, begin to narrow your choices by attending information sessions about the organizations that interest you, talking to the volunteer coordinator and to people who volunteer or work for the organization. Learn about the organization's culture, especially as it applies to employees and other volunteers with disabilities.

You will probably have to complete an application, take part in an interview, and you may be asked to go through a security screening process, including a driving history (if applicable) and criminal record check. Treat the interview as though you're applying for a paid position. And, to be successful, practice the attitudes and skills that will increase your value for a future employer. That means:

• Know what your supervisor or the volunteer coordinator expects of you and your role in the organization.
• Be dependable and show up on time for every shift. Let your supervisor know if you can't make a shift, stay on task, and complete assigned work.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Work as part of a team.

Take advantage of opportunities to participate in training activities that can build your skills and knowledge and add them to your resume (view our previous Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinar on building a resume and landing an interview).

You may also be able to find a mentor, who may be an experienced staff person, board member or another volunteer who can help you succeed - both as a volunteer and in your career. Here's a great resource to find help you find a mentor.

You can also use volunteering to expand your network of contacts, who may include staff, board members, clients, other volunteers and suppliers, etc. They may be willing to provide a favorable reference for you when you apply for a paid job. Here are some tips on networking.

If your volunteer experience is relevant, make sure to mention it on your resume or job application and at a future job interview. Be sure to have the correct contact information for your supervisor and references, the title of your volunteer position, examples of your volunteer activities, the skills you acquired and your accomplishments.

To Sum It All Up

Here's how volunteering can help you to reach your career goals:

• Volunteering gives you experience. Volunteer experience shows employers that you can manage your time and complete assigned tasks. It also shows that you can get along with others and make a commitment. Your volunteer record can show an employer that you have the attitudes and skills they are looking for in a potential employee.
• Volunteering helps you develop skills. Volunteering gives you a chance to build on skills you already have and learn new ones.
• Volunteering gives you the opportunity to meet new people and expand your network.
• Volunteering lets you check out an occupation or industry. Whether you are considering a new job or changing careers, volunteering lets you learn about the types of people and jobs that are out there, the challenges you may face and how best to prepare to make that change.
• Volunteering builds your confidence and can help you feel more active, needed, and productive. Remaining confident is especially important if you've not worked for a while or if you are becoming discouraged in your search for a new job or new career.
• Volunteering helps you better know yourself, your skills, accomplishments, interests and values, which are the foundation of career success. Volunteer experience can be a good way to understand your potential to grow and develop and to find out how other people view you and your strengths.

Volunteering can help you build a solid foundation for the next phase of your career. The skills you use, the tasks you complete and the outcomes you achieve through volunteering will bring you closer to your career goals. And you'll have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others. It's a win-win situation!

Success through volunteering and 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.

On his road to full time employment, Jesus volunteered with Telecare. Telecare works to improve the lives of people with serious mental illness. As a volunteer, Jesus learned the important work the organization does in his community and found a career path he was passionate about. His role grew, and later that year, he accepted a paid position as a part-time case manager. Read more about Jesus to find out how volunteering and the Ticket program helped him find his way to a full-time career.

By Linda Carter Batiste, J.D., Principal Consultant, Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

In Part 1, we discussed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rules related to service animals in the workplace and the process for requesting to use your service animal at work. In Part 2, we're going to look at other issues that may come up.

Can my employer offer a different accommodation instead of letting me use my service animal at work?

The ADA allows employers to choose among effective accommodations. Effective simply means that the accommodation meets your disability-related needs so you can work. So, an employer could offer you a different accommodation as long as it's effective. For example, if you use a service animal to retrieve small items for you at work, your employer might offer a reacher or even offer to have a co-worker retrieve items for you instead.

However, in many cases, there won't be another fully effective option because service animals often provide personal or medical support that other types of accommodations cannot provide, such as a sense of security, independence, and confidence or assistance during your commute to work. So if your employer offers you another accommodation instead of using your service animal and you feel that it would not be effective, you may want to explain why and possibly provide some examples of the kinds of personal and medical support your service animal provides that your employer cannot provide.

Can I ask for breaks to take my service animal outside to relieve itself?

Yes, if the regular break schedule does not allow you to take your service animal outside to relieve itself, you should talk with your employer about a modified break schedule. Keep in mind that employers don't have to give you more paid breaks as part of your accommodation, but might have to rearrange your current breaks or give you extra, unpaid breaks.

How do I educate my co-workers about my service animal?

Under the ADA, employers must keep your medical and accommodation information confidential, so you might want to bring up the idea of educating your co-workers about your service animal and even offer to educate them yourself. If you're not comfortable talking with your co-workers yourself, you might offer to find someone to come in and do a training. For example, the organization or individual who trained your service animal, your state Vocational Rehabilitation agency, or a local independent living center might have someone who could do service animal etiquette training.

Also see: A Guide for Coworker Interaction with Service Animals in the Workplace.

What if one of my co-workers is allergic to my service animal?

If your co-worker has a disability under the ADA, your employer should try to accommodate both of you. There may be a way for you to use your service animal at work without triggering an allergic reaction in your co-worker. We have a publication that you can share with your employer if you encounter this issue: Service Animals and Allergies in the Workplace.

There are other issues you may encounter related to your service or emotional support animal at work so if you have additional questions, we have a lot more information on our service animal page if you want to check it out. And feel free to contact us at JAN if you have any questions about workplace accommodations and the ADA.

How can Ticket to Work help?

Some Ticket program service providers can help answer your questions about service dogs or other accommodations.

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

Are you thinking about going to work or have you already started to look for a job? Whichever stage you're in, you'll likely have some highs and lows. Sometimes it's an energizing experience; sometimes it's just plain stressful. The good news is that you don't have to go it alone! Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program can help you through the process.

Do I qualify?

If you are age 18 through 64 and receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits because of your disability, you are eligible to participate in the Ticket program. Participation is free and voluntary. The Ticket program can help you move toward financial independence through work and offers a variety of supports to help you succeed.

You may receive a paper Ticket in the mail, but you don't need one to participate! Your eligibility will be verified by the service provider with whom you choose to work.

Who will help me?

When you participate in the Ticket program, you'll choose a service provider, like an Employment Network (EN) or your State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency. They'll help you develop a plan, often called an Individual Work Plan (IWP) or Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) that will be a roadmap to meeting your work goals.

Your work plan is a written and signed agreement between you and your service provider. It includes career planning and specific supports and services you'll receive from your service provider and the steps you’ll take to meet your goals.

You can learn more about work plans and your responsibilities in Planning Your Employment Goals with the Ticket to Work Program.

Have you heard a lot about apprenticeships lately? Many people are exploring them as a path to financial independence through employment. But do you know what they are and what types of jobs may be available to you?

Learn as you earn

Millions of jobs today go unfilled because employers can't find workers with the right skills. Automation or technical innovation alone can't overcome these challenges. American workers need to upgrade their skills and America’s businesses are offering programs to help train jobseekers who are ready to learn.

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly-skilled careers. Workers benefit from apprenticeships by receiving a skills-based education that prepares them for good-paying jobs. Employers benefit by being able to recruit, build and retain a highly-skilled workforce.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeships can help you:

1. Jump start your career and ease the transition from school to employment
2. Get academic credit towards a college degree for the skills you learn while avoiding student debt
3. Connect with mentor(s) in your chosen industry who can help you advance your career
4. Receive an industry-recognized and nationally-portable credential
5. Gain workplace skills in the field of your choice through on-the-job learning

What types of jobs offer apprenticeship programs?

Lots of them! Apprenticeship is a flexible training model that are customizable to meet the needs of businesses across multiple industries. Some industries with apprenticeship programs include:

Figure 1 Source: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/Apprenticeship_101_Factsheet.pdf

When this blog post was written, some of the popular apprenticeship opportunities on Apprenticeship.gov's Apprenticeship Finder included a computer technician, an automotive technician, a building engineer and an electrical apprenticeship.

You can use the Apprenticeship Finder to apply directly for apprenticeships with the employer or the organization that runs the program. 94% of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $70,000. ^[1]

Learn more

Thank you to apprenticeship.gov for much of the information provided in this blog post! We encourage you to visit them to learn more.

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 (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

^[1] https://www.apprenticeship.gov/become-apprentice