You can empower your family member with a disability to reach their full potential and meet their employment goals.
Are you a parent, sibling, or guardian of someone with a disability? As their family member, you are likely one of the closest people in their lives and you can play a big role in determining their future employment decisions. This page is a go-to resource to learn how you can empower the people you love to reach their employment goals.
How can I support my family member in their employment journey?
Consider Supported Decision Making
Learn about alternatives to guardianship and ways you can support your family member in their decision making process without overstepping boundaries.
Empower Goal-Setting
Talk to your family member about their job aspirations and what steps they need to take to reach their goals.
Find a Support Network
Connect with other families like yours to learn and grow as advocates together.
Become an Advocate
Become familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and other state and national provisions that could affect your family member in their employment.
Success Spotlight: McIver’s Employment Journey.
The Thomas family. From left to right: McIver Thomas, Payton Thomas, Lisa Thomas, Richard Thomas, Janie Thomas, William Thomas.
Our son, McIver, has an intellectual disability but we have always had high standards and expectations for his life. These high expectations have helped him be employed full-time, drive, and live independently. We always expected McIver to help perform chores around the house as a child, but he constantly exceeded our expectations and grew to enjoy yard work and landscaping with dad. We always knew this work ethic would carry over to his employment journey.
When McIver started his first job, we broke down his daily routine into bite-sized pieces. His routine consisted of washing his clothes before a shift and setting his alarm with enough time to eat breakfast, make his lunch, and get ready for work. As he got comfortable with his routine, we began discussing his ideal future employment goals. McIver worked several different types of jobs, and after discovering what he liked and disliked about each role, we found the best position for his gifts and personality. Now, McIver works as a very successful warehouse manager and finds great fulfillment in his career.
-Lisa Thomas, McIver’s mother
Do you have a story to share? Send a photo of your family along with your story to hiremesc@able-sc.org for a chance to be featured.
Your Key Questions, Answered.
Encourage your family member to share their stories.
By sharing their employment stories, your family member is empowering others to know that they can do the same and to start their journey toward getting a job.
By sharing your story of employment, you are empowering others to know they can also start their journey toward getting a job.
See below for two simple steps to help guide your family member in the process of sharing their story of employment with us.
See below for two simple steps to help guide your family member in the process of sharing their story of employment with us.
Have your family member fill out the official Hire Me SC "Spotlight Submission" form to give our team permission to spread their important message.
Click here to fill out the form with your family member and get started!
Choose one of two #HireMeSC sign templates. The first option will allow your family member to cut along the dotted lines and the second will allow your family member to print it out and hold it up as-is.
Take a picture of your family member holding their sign of choice and have them post their image using the hashtag #HireMeSC to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Don't forget to have them write about their employment successes or aspirations for employment in the copy!
Download the #HireMeSC sign templates HERE to print in your home