How to: Include Disabled Persons in the Workplace, A Comprehensive Guide
22 July 2024
Creating an inclusive workplace for disabled persons is not just a matter of compliance but also a step towards a diverse and robust workforce. Here’s a guideline to help employers integrate disabled persons effectively:
- Educate Leadership
Enhance Understanding: Improve leaders’ knowledge about including disabled people in the workforce.
Mentorship Programs: Identify, guide & mentor potential leaders who may be overlooked due to their disabilities & stigma
Implement initiatives like the Generation Value Program, offering mentorship opportunities to disabled persons
- Identify and Support Potential Leaders
Spot Overlooked Talent: Identify and guide potential leaders who may be overlooked due to disabilities.
- Offer Flexible and Remote Work Options
Adapt Work Environments: Allow for flexible and remote work, ensuring homes are equipped with necessary supports and accommodations.
- Adopt the Social Model of Disability
Shift Perspectives: View disability as a difference, akin to gender or sexuality, rather than a problem needing accommodation.
Remove Barriers: Focus on removing barriers to full participation in the economy, placing the responsibility on businesses and leadership
- Proactive Employer Involvement
Seek Out Disabled Persons: Encourage employers to actively recruit disabled individuals, rather than expecting them to adapt to standard work environments.
- Reserve Employment Specifically
Dedicated Employment Opportunities: Similar to reserved parking, allocate specific job roles for disabled individuals.
- Revise Disability Coverage
Include Disability Management Services: These services help shift focus to the abilities of ill or injured workers, rather than their limitations.
- Develop Inclusive Return-to-Work Programs
Customized Programs: Create return-to-work initiatives that emphasize inclusion and accommodation.
- Provide Necessary Support
Accessibility Tools: Offer specific equipment like large font computer setups for the visually impaired.
Sign Language Interpreters: Ensure interpreters are available for hearing-impaired employees during meetings.
- Implement Flexible Scheduling
Accommodate Unique Needs: Allow staff to work on timeframes that suit their individual requirements.
- Expand Coverage Areas
Diverse Benefits: Include various benefits like drug coverage, alternative medications (e.g., medical cannabis), and paramedical treatments (e.g., massage, acupuncture).
- Case Study: Gil Winch’s Approach
Outsourced Call Center: Employs disabled persons, creating a supportive environment from recruitment to accommodations.
By following these steps, employers can create a more inclusive, supportive, and productive workplace for disabled persons, harnessing a diverse range of talents and perspectives.
How to: Include Disabled Persons in the Workplace, A Comprehensive Guide