Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Disabled But Able

Yesenia Vasquez is deaf and working. The Manhattan College in Riverdale graduate?s job at the center revolves around helping other hearing-impaired people learn computer skills, how to write resumes and approach employers to get jobs.

"I've always been active and I've always been, always wanted to improve that type of advocacy and the quality of life for deaf people,? said Vasquez, an independent living specialist. ?So that's what's really my work here and to make deaf people independent."

Employment for the disabled can also be more than an issue of self-sufficiency; it can be an issue of income. Whether it is disability, Supplemental Support Income (SSI) or welfare, the average government check is not enough to live on, said Lucy Birbiglia of the Queens center. That puts the disabled in the position of seeking ways to become competitive job hunters in an already difficult market for all.

At the Lexington School and Center for the Deaf in Jackson Heights, Queens, Adele Agin, executive director of the vocational services center and mental health services, and her staff also assist the disabled to become independent and competitive job candidates. They aid all ages in developing resumes and interview skills, but they are unique in that they also employ a staff to look for jobs for their 30 unemployed clients.

"Supported employment is a national model where you help folks who might need that help in employment preparation. That is interviewing skills and resume prep and all of that,? she said. ?And then there's the job development piece where we have professionals who go out in the field and try to help find jobs for these folks."

United Cerebral Palsy of New York City offers similar services to clients in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island. More clients have come to their Manhattan center to learn new job skills in the last three years said Project Director Randy Bolton.

Kelly Clark lost her job when the Kmart she worked at closed because of the economy and is now at UCP taking computer classes. Wheelchair-bound since birth because of CP, Kmart was more than her first paying job, she said it was also the first place she was seen as one of the gang, instead of the woman in the chair.

"It was so exciting, let me tell you. It was the best feeling you can have, ever have, because people were very friendly, they were very helpful. They never ignored me. They always tried to include me," she said.

Roberto Ruiz also has CP and has delayed motor skills and use of only one hand. UCP is helping him to develop job skills and has provided him with part-time employment. He is now looking for permanent work said he feels he has been rejected from being considered for employment at stores he?s approached for work.

"They see one of us go for a job ... and they see the hand or whatever [and] they say, ?No we don't got position for you or the application for you,?? he said.

While companies can apply for a tax credit when they initially hire a disabled person, advocates at the Queens Independent Living Center and Lexington School said it's generally not enough of a financial incentive to convince employers to hire a disabled person over someone else.

Conversely, UCP director Randy Bolton said some of the companies she works with are so committed to hiring the disabled that they do not apply for the tax credit at all and come back to her seeking to employ other disabled employees when one leaves.

At the Independent Living Center, Vasquez hopes that with programs like hers, the deaf and other disabled people can get the skills they need to get the jobs they want - even in the depressed economy.

"I think it depends on your skills. ... Compared to the world, the deaf community is small, but it?s like anything else, you just have to apply and be skilled," she said.

Meanwhile, unemployment is high across the board, but companies increased their staple of temporary workers in September.