Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month highlights the value that people with disabilities add to our nation’s workplaces and economy. This campaign serves as a great reminder of our responsibility to promote inclusive hiring practices at work.
Inclusion in hiring is crucial to building strong, dynamic teams. With that in mind, “NDEAM is an opportune time to review your company’s policies to ensure they convey a commitment to an inclusive workplace culture.” We should take this opportunity to educate ourselves about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this year’s theme, America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion, “reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Whether you’re a small or large business, there are many ways employers can participate in NDEAM and foster a more inclusive workforce. Here are a few ideas from the Office of Disability Employment Policy:
Review company policies: Review your company’s policies to ensure they convey a commitment to an inclusive workplace culture.
Form an Employee Resource Group: Launch a disability Employee Resource Group (ERG). ERGs offer employees an opportunity to connect and receive support from others with similar backgrounds or interests.
Train supervisors: Supervisors are the individuals closest to an organization’s workforce. As part of NDEAM, consider conducting training to ensure they understand their role in fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
Educate employees: It is critical that companies committed to disability inclusion effectively and regularly reinforce that commitment to employees.
Feature NDEAM on social media: Talk about NDEAM on your corporate social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Participate in Disability Mentoring Day: Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for youth with disabilities through hands-on programs, job shadowing, and ongoing mentoring. The nationwide observance is the third Wednesday of each October, but companies may choose to host their own events on any day of the month (or year, for that matter). The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) offers information to implement a Disability Mentoring Day event.
For more ideas about how you can support National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit www.dol.gov/NDEAM.
Want to learn more? Contact Stackrock Talent Founder & Talent Strategist Cammas Freeman at cammas@stackrocktalent.com.
