VR Services for Businesses

Email us at vr.employmentteam@odhs.oregon.gov with questions or to request any of our services.

Oregon business are invited to join VR and Oregon Commission for the Blind for our Lunch and Learn for Business series, a space to learn about an array of topics related to disability in the workplace. We regularly host guest speakers from businesses who are leading by example. This series is designed for all employees, including executives, human resource professionals, hiring managers and recruiters.

Subscribe to get emails about upcoming learning opportunities hosted by VR and OCB related to disability in the workplace.

More than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. report having a disability. Many disabilities are invisible. You may already employ or work alongside people with disabilities.

Hiring employees with disabilities does not increase workers compensation insurance rates. Insurance rates are based on the relative hazards of the operation and the organization’s accident history.

Most people with disabilities do not need accommodations. Most workers with disabilities do not need accommodations to perform their jobs. For those who do, the cost is usually minimal.

Accommodations are not expensive. One survey of businesses found 61 percent of accommodations costed nothing; 33 percent were a one-time median expense of $300; and 6 percent had ongoing costs.

Applicants with disabilities must meet the same qualifications as those without disabilities. Applicants who are not qualified for a job cannot claim discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the ADA, to be protected from discrimination in hiring, a person with a disability must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

Small businesses follow different rules under the ADA. Businesses with fewer than 15 employees are not covered by the employment provisions of the ADA. A covered employer of any size does not have to provide a reasonable accommodation that would cause an undue hardship. Undue hardship is an action requiring significant difficulty or expense considering the organization's size, financial resources and the nature and structure of its operation.

Oregon Commission for the Blind Supports businesses in employing qualified employees with vision loss. No-cost services include consultation, technology training, recruitment support, accommodation assessment and follow-up.

Northwest ADA Center Information, training and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act for businesses, governments and people with disabilities in Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Washington.

The Job Accommodation NetworkA leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.

Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN)Resources to help employers recruit, hire, retain and promote people with disabilities.

U.S. Small Business AdministrationA variety of resources on hiring people with disabilities. As an employer, you can take advantage of programs that encourage recruitment and hiring of people with disabilities. This also makes you eligible for tax credits that help cover the cost of workplace accommodations.

Access Technologies, Inc.A statewide non-profit and leader in ergonomic and assistive technology. ATI provides equipment and training to people with significant combined hearing and vision loss so they can stay connected to work colleagues, friends and family.

Office of Disability Employment PolicyStrategies, effective practices, information and technical assistance for public and private employers and government agencies.