Author: Topcoach
When many people focus on elements of job training, especially when it comes to helping people with disabilities find employment, they emphasize hard skills and neglect soft skills. While it’s important to know the technical aspects of performing a job to the best of one’s abilities, it’s also necessary to have interpersonal skills.
Soft skills are core individual competencies. They can be harder to define in some cases because there are so many different topics under soft skills to take into account. Some common examples include things like communication, listening and time management.
Every worker needs to master basic soft skills. Focusing on soft skills training objectives and a vocational skills list is especially important for everyone.
People with disabilities, especially developmental disabilities, often face greater challenges when it comes to connecting with others. This includes their colleagues and superiors, as well as the customers or clients with whom they might interact.
Without proper soft skills training, it can be very difficult for people with disabilities to find or retain their positions. It can also have a negative impact on their earning potential.
We would like to suggest top-5 Soft skills for employee:
- Good Communication skills.
Required for almost every position.
- Conflict Management
Conflict disrupts the culture, morale, and overall productivity of any workplace.
- Problem-solving
No matter what kind of job you are hiring for, good problem-solving skills are a must. Students with disabilities may have a difficult time doing this on their own, but this is an opportunity for their coach, colleagues, or manager to step in.
- Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is part of problem solving, but also helps with strategy and assessing new ideas or opportunities.
- Time Management
Some people with disabilities have trouble managing their time. They might get so caught up on a task and don’t realize how long they’ve been working on it.
Informal educational methods are the most appropriate and efficient way to teach soft skills. Through role-plays, discussions, games students with disabilities could learn it easily.
Job tips
While these people should pursue any job they’re interested in, some careers are well-suited for particular disabilities. There are a few examples of jobs that might play to their specific strengths below:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Actor/actress
- Computer-related jobs
- Engineering
- Healthcare
- Technical writer
Blind/Low Vision
- Career counselor
- Customer service representative
- Insurance agent
- Massage therapist
- Telemarketer
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Accountant
- Desktop publisher
- Graphic designer
- Industrial machinery worker
- Web developer
Intellectual Disabilities
- Bank teller
- Cashier/store clerk
- Low-risk security guard
- Photographer
- Warehouse worker
Mental Health Conditions
- Courier/messenger
- Graphic designer
- Receptionist
- Recreation worker
- Teacher
Physical Disabilities
- Actuary
- Emergency dispatcher
- Financial analyst
- IT specialist
- Software developer
Speech Impairments
- Food preparation worker
- Orderly
- Picker/packer
- Truck driver
- Landscaper/groundskeeper
