Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a mighty, unemployed prince on the verge of a major job search. This charming prince had been laid off by the outsourcing of demons and goblins. He fought day and night through the wild maze of resumes, applications and interviewing techniques but just couldn't find the magic potion to defeat the unemployment dragon.

He prepared and prepared, filling out applications, making cold calls, and still no jobs were to be found. One day, as the prince was walking along a yellow brick road, he stumbled upon a little wizard wearing ruby red slippers granting wishes to all the forest creatures. #”Dear prince, why are you so sad?#” the wizard quizzed. Prince Jobless responded with a heavy sigh, #”I can not find work and I feel it may be due to my disability. You see, one day, after I had climbed a towering castle to rescue my beautiful princess from an evil sorcerer, I began to develop severe chest pains and found I have a rare, heart disorder that significantly impacts my ability to perform certain tasks and jobs.”

The wizard nodded in agreement, clicked his ruby red slippers together and poof! A magical career counselor appeared to help aid in his quest for employment. The prince has found that individuals with disabilities have a very difficult time entering the work force, despite the Americans with Disabilities Act outlawing discrimination against people with disabilities.

The career counselor clattered around the prince, eager to lend him tips that would encourage his chances of landing work. The job hunt process for an individual with a disability poses some unique challenges. With a shake and a twist of the career counselor's enchanted pen, the prince found the following job seeking tips very helpful:

• First, remember that rejection is experienced by every job seeker at some point in their search, not just by individuals with disabilities. Remember that disability does not mean unemployable.

• Always be prepared for an interview. Research the company and position before going into an interview. You want to make sure the job is a good fit for you as much as the interviewer wants to make sure you're a good fit for the position.

• Always check with your local career center for information on employment opportunities as well as listings in Braille, large print and audio versions of employment listings.

• Don't lose sight of your skills and strengths. Focus on what you can do and how you or your prospective employer can make accommodations to strengthen a perceived weakness.

• First impressions are always the most important. There is no need to inform the employer of any disabilities during the hiring process unless you may need accommodations.

Searching for a new job is work within itself. Job seekers with disabilities will feel like they are battling fire-breathing dragons and swimming across crocodile-filled moats just to find a kingdom of employment. The community is filled with skilled, potential employees willing to work and use their ability to make a difference in the area.

Amanda Derby is the housing advocate for Options for Independence, located at 75 Genesee St., Auburn. She can be reached at 255-3447.