Work from Home Jobs for the Disabled
Tuesday May 29, 2007
If you're suffering from a disability or chronic medical condition you may have access to work from home jobs that are only available to the disabled. One agency that offers work from home jobs to the disabled is the National Telecommuting Institute (NTI), a non-profit organization.
NTI describes its missions as: "NTI staff bring together employers who have agreed to "go virtual," advanced communications technology, and vocational rehabilitation agencies to enable individuals with disabilities to train for and work online in environments that are more easily accessible to them".
Most NTI jobs currently offered are for customer service representatives, tech support agents and medical transcriptionists. Hiring organizations range from the IRS to AAA's auto club. They are the prime contractor for the IRS and the Department of Veterans Affairs. They also act as subcontractors for Medicare and Medicaid, the Department of Labor and the INS. They've also matched disabled home workers with private companies, including Ticket Master, Home Shopping Network, Alamo Rent A Car, and other well-recognized corporations.
NTI offers training to qualified job applicants, the fees for which are paid for by vocational rehab counseling agencies. It also provides a table of states where NTI is an approved vendor for vocational rehab agencies. Currently, this includes about 30 US states.
You must eventually submit a written certification of your disability before you can be offered a job via NTI. Either a physician or a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) office in your state must provide a letter verifying that you have a chronic medical condition or disability. NTI publishes its current list of available jobs online. Sign Up for My Newsletter or RSS Feed
NTI describes its missions as: "NTI staff bring together employers who have agreed to "go virtual," advanced communications technology, and vocational rehabilitation agencies to enable individuals with disabilities to train for and work online in environments that are more easily accessible to them".
Most NTI jobs currently offered are for customer service representatives, tech support agents and medical transcriptionists. Hiring organizations range from the IRS to AAA's auto club. They are the prime contractor for the IRS and the Department of Veterans Affairs. They also act as subcontractors for Medicare and Medicaid, the Department of Labor and the INS. They've also matched disabled home workers with private companies, including Ticket Master, Home Shopping Network, Alamo Rent A Car, and other well-recognized corporations.
NTI offers training to qualified job applicants, the fees for which are paid for by vocational rehab counseling agencies. It also provides a table of states where NTI is an approved vendor for vocational rehab agencies. Currently, this includes about 30 US states.
You must eventually submit a written certification of your disability before you can be offered a job via NTI. Either a physician or a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) office in your state must provide a letter verifying that you have a chronic medical condition or disability. NTI publishes its current list of available jobs online. Sign Up for My Newsletter or RSS Feed
I found myself with degenerative disc disease in my back — am no longer able to work outside the home– I had to find another way to earn an income and Man did I ever — It takes some discipline but well worth it! Making more money today that ever!!
Mike Garrard
[telephone number removed by moderator]
Mike, I’m so glad to hear you are doing well with your work decision. May I ask what you decided to do? I am at the point where my fibromyalgia is causing me to consider changing many things, and my husband has lumbar disk disease as you do. We need to figure something out where we each are going to be happy and able to function.
Mike,
Please share what you have found as a legitimate source of income for those of us who really need to work from home. I have Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia and have come to a point where the fibro has taken over to where I can’t perform my job which requires repetitive movement. Anyone with any info please share.
Thank you!
i am disable i want good job
I AM 49 HAVE MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS NEED HELP TO FIND A JOB I CAN DO FROM HOME.
I also need a job or business. I have aphasia, so I’m unable to do telemarketing, sales, transcription, or anything using my hearing, writing is difficult. I’ve been barred from working outside of my home. I’ve spent many, many hours trying to find something, as I don’t have enough income to live on. I can do just about anything that I did before (no one expected me to be a saleman or secretary before). It’s hungry here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!
I have been approved for a job with NTI and have been working with a VR counclor who has ordered me a 19 in computer and is going to help me set up my office, problem is that I check their website several times a day for new job postings but their is NEVER anything new???? So I am just sort of in waiting. I have MS and I currently work a full time job. I have missed so much work its not even funny. Any one else have this problem with NTI?
Usually working from home means being part of a MLM (Multi-level Marketing). Finding the “right” company for you is important. I have found a 16 year old company that works for me. It may work for you. I would be happy to give you more information so you can decide if it would work for you. (In most states.)
Laurie:
I totally disagree that:
“Usually working from home means being part of a MLM (Multi-level Marketing). ”
MLM is one option of many and for most people is not the answer at all. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those who get involved in MLM end up wasting their time and money. While there are exceptions, they are truly the exception and not the rule.
The people commenting on this thread need real help, and some are truly in dire straits. They should not have to endure prodding to become part of someone’s downline.
Randy
I have been trying so hard to find a legitimate job since I too live with an advanced case of Degenerative Disk Disease. We are fixing to lose everything we have and I want to work so bad and help my family. This web site was such a blessing to find. I have lots of customer service exp.(25-30 yrs.) I just need to learn a little more on the computer and this girl will be good to go. Thank You So Much !
If your working with a VR counselor and NTI is not working, Look into CORA, They have many jobs opening right now.
I have Ulcerative Colitis which is not going into remission like my doctor would like to see. I am a single mother and just turned 47 in august. I have to find a job that I can do from home. If anyone has any information that will help in my seach, please contact me. Thank you in advance.
I am pleasantly surprised how supportive and encouraging the employer I am working with is.That work is simple enough that anyone can do is and is low stress. After the first two weeks full time work is available.
Another wasted website to scam the disabled!!!
Kathy:
Please clarify your comment. Which website are you referring to?
Randy D.
Guide
About Home Business
I also have degenertive disc disease and have been looking for something I can do from home as I am not able to do the work i use too. I have been looking for years and have only been place on a list at best and have yet to find anything. Ive went to wbsite after website most were scams or I never heard anything back. Can anyone help please
I recently spoke with one of the directors at CORA (www.coraworks.com), which trains teleworkers as their employees starting at state minimum wage, though the employees can advance within and take an outside position with the experience. As of May 09 their website is undergoing a total reconstruction, but the e-mail and phone number are still valid. The staff member who did return my call gave me a lot of helpful information.
Some of it concerned NTI and wasn’t encouraging. Not only has the Auto club laid off all their NTI workers, but an NTI employee working for the IRS was fired after two weeks – for helping a caller find a tax publication, rather than follow her script and dish the call off to someone else, which given her functionality there was no reason to do. Personally, I am (was) still waiting for NTI to respond to an e-mail, which I delivered in lieu of an application, since NTI’s site has no general-public POC. I would stay away from these folks.
How to find work-at-home jobs that don’t require a landline or cable internet connection? Our rural location prevents our disabled son from applying for internet-connected jobs, which he would be good at. The only high-speed internet we can get is satellite or wireless. Land line doesn’t support it. Any suggestions?
Hi Nancy:
I wish I had an answer for you, but I really don’t. Until rural areas are plugged in reliably, it’s going to be difficult to get decent Internet speed – at least the kind of speed most of the work at home contact centers require. I’m hoping other readers will have some ideas!
Randy D.
Hi Nancy,
I am disabled from birth and know that this site NTI has too many qualifications, don’t bother. What you can do is go around your town and ask companies for jobs that can be done at home. Examples; collating papers, stuffing envelopes, assemble work and customer service with a second landline just answering questions about services or products. This last one may have some forms to fill out. Another one is to find items to sell from home using booklets and home parties. I hope this helps.
Peg
I now think I have figured that out and have deleted the offending comment, thanks to another comment I received today. Actually, there were two purporting to be from a Reverend – PersonalJobs@hotmail and TotalJobs@hotmail, I think. Isn’t it awful that people can be so low as to disguise their scams as “Christian” or from a “Reverend”? And scamming the disabled, no less. That’s just appalling to me.
If you ever want to complain about someone else’s comment or a scam of any kind you see on this site – please be specific so I can take prompt action. Unfortunately, it took me 6 months to figure this out.
Randy D.
Having tried many years to secure a full time work-from-home job that would accommodate my disability (Muscular Dystrophy), I came to the realization that only a home base business would allow me to work and earn a living. I recommend that any severely handicapped person spend their time, effort and money on pursuing the “home business option” rather than the “work from home job option”.
The only problem is try finding information on what types of home-based businesses are good for the disabled and you’ll come up with very few -if any- ideas.
(Sigh)
Home Biz:
“The only problem is try finding information on what types of home-based businesses are good for the disabled”
What’s good for one person may not be for the other, especially those who are disabled, since the nature and severity of the disability have a lot to do with it. I agree though, that creating your own income opportunity with a home based business is probably the best way to work at home, disabled or not. See What Home Based Business Should I Start which may help get you on track for deciding what avenues to pursue.
Thanks for the comment, and my best to all of you to your success!
Randy D.
About 2 yrs ago my life turn completely upside down. I had been a professional reaching for the stars so to speak. Then illness left me with several disabilities that brought my career to a screeching halt. Trying to recover left me without my career and life I once known.
I not only found myself in the midst of an economic downfall, but, newly added personal challenges as I sought employment. I wanted to let you know I found a company called J.Lodge out of Ft Meyer, Fl. I was so thankful I found this job working from home…so far I have been pretty happy. I am not sure you know about them.. so I wanted to let you know about this company. People can apply thru their website at http://www.jlodge.com/careers/ feel free to ask me questions too. Allison
Thanks for your comment Allison. I did some checking into the company out of curiousity, everything I found was positive, so I’m allowing the link in hopes that others will find the work they’ve been so desperately looking for.
I ask that if others do contact the company and go through the application and employment process (or have already done so) that they keep me posted on their experiences – good or bad.
You can add your comment here. I’m monitoring these comments and would like to hear what you’ve found out. If the company is as good for finding work at home for the disabled as it appears to be on the surface, I’d like to do an in-depth piece on it for an upcoming feature.
Thanks for sharing and giving others hope Allison. My best to you, your family and your future!
Randy D.
Despite the economic forecasts that still show job losses set to climb even higher, there are a few companies that are still experiencing growth. The J. Lodge Corporation, a quality call services company, has sustained profitability since 1999 and accredits its success solely to its unique employee model that consists of disabled business Americans. While other companies are outsourcing their jobs to foreign competitors, J.Lodge is striving to provide part-time careers for individuals who are interested in our company and who qualify for our positions. If anyone is interested please visit: http://www.jlodge.com/careers
I am disabled and have been since August 2000. This is the first job I have been able to find that I can do from home. I found real at home work and you can too… Please go to the website and click on Employment at top and then click on Apply. It’s that simple. Hope to be your co-worker soon!!!!