Every October, we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Parents ask us the same heartfelt question year after year: “What kind of job will my child be able to do after epilepsy surgery?”

It’s not a simple answer. Many of our kids face complex challenges such as neurodevelopmental disabilities, communication differences, and sensory needs that don’t fit neatly into a job application or interview.

One dad recently shared:

“My son just got rejected from a fast food job after a four-question interview. He spent a lot of time preparing and was ready for every question they asked. He’s now been turned down after about 12 job interviews. It feels like discrimination. He can do every one of these jobs. None are customer-facing.  What he can’t do is sell himself.”

We hear stories like this all the time.

Why the IEP Matters for Employment

This year’s NDEAM theme, ‘Celebrating Talent and Value,’ feels especially personal.

For my family, the turning point came when my son (who had a right hemispherectomy as a toddler) started preparing for adulthood. School was always hard. He has physical, sensory, and communication challenges. When we started asking, “What are his strengths?” and “Where does he thrive?” instead of only focusing on challenges, everything shifted.

The transition section of his Individualized Education Plan (IEP) became our roadmap. It helped us ask better questions, set realistic goals, and find creative paths toward employment.

We used tools like PESA’s IEP Goal Bank (check the “transition” tab) and a functional vocational evaluation that looked at his strengths, interests, and support needs to identify environments where he could shine.

Planning for employment truly starts with the IEP. These plans shouldn’t be limited to academics because the entire purpose of the IEP is to prepare a young person for the rest of their life.

Beginning by age 16 (and even earlier in some states), students with IEPs are entitled to transition services that prepare them for work, postsecondary education, and independent living.

The IEP can include:

• Career assessments
• Work-based learning opportunities
• Job coaching
• Communication and executive function supports
• Goals for medical self-management and independence

A strong transition IEP doesn’t just help in school; it lays the foundation for adulthood. 

What’s New in Disability Employment?

There’s some good news: as of August 2025, the employment rate for working-age adults with disabilities (ages 16–64) is 38.5%, the highest it has ever been. (Disability Labor Force Statistics, August 2025. U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy)

Employers are becoming more open to remote work, job customization, and inclusive hiring. But many traditional hiring systems still don’t work for people who communicate differently, struggle with executive function, or simply don’t “sell themselves” well in interviews. Many young adults with a history of epilepsy have challenges that are not always visible.

That’s where something called customized employment can make a huge difference.