Accessibility: From aspiration to action

My earliest lesson on the importance of accessibility came in the 90s, when I was working with an Indian tech major. My manager, who became a paraplegic after an unfortunate surgery, was wheelchair-bound. Every day he relied on us to help him enter the building that was accessible only by steps. While we were always happy to help, the pain of dependency in his eyes was unmissable. One day when a senior leader quietly observed us and realized the challenge, he apologized profusely for not having had the foresight to make the workplace design more inclusive. Within two days, he ensured ramps were installed in all office buildings and washrooms got upgraded. That was the first time I realized how a simple action and commitment could make a world of difference.?

沃尔玛 has given us a platform to translate that insight into action. Inclusion takes on many forms here. One of them is working to enable accessibility for people whose lives have been touched by disability and creating a culture based on awareness, acceptance and action. ?

A key pillar in driving this charter through conversation, empathy and active engagement at Walmart is wCare, our associate resource group (ARG), that I serve as a sponsor for. Since its inception, the ARG has been supporting associates who have disabilities, the caregivers in the workforce and people with disabilities in the community. Through grassroots awareness and sensitization programs, transformational stories of our associates, inclusive design workshops with the developer community and engagement with the community through efforts like the ‘Global Accessibility Awareness Day’, we have been trying to build this culture from the ground up. We are now starting to work with neurodiverse individuals to understand how AI can be applied to help them make decisions.???

In my role as wCare sponsor, during my visits to NGOs supporting people with disabilities, I have been amazed by the abundance of talented individuals across different areas of expertise. How do we tap into this talent? What can organizations do to support them???

Moving forward in this direction involves helping individuals with disabilities become self-reliant while harnessing their talent and creating equal opportunity. Imagine the impact we would make if people with disabilities could design websites, build applications and create shopping experiences that are truly inclusive and not a result of an afterthought or a compliance need.??

The first step though for organizations is to create awareness within. As an ARG, we are trying to find like-minded people who share the same passion and purposefully build the muscle to do this at scale. The next step is to understand how your workplace can become more inclusive not just in terms of physical spaces but also the tools, resources and technology to help people with disabilities be truly immersed in the workforce. Most importantly, sensitize and train managers and associates to help create the right environment for their fellow associates to thrive.?

I imagine a future where accessibility is an integral part of mainstream conversations. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities reminds us to stay true to this commitment on our journey. For us, it has been an incredible chapter of continuous learning, yet we know we are just getting started. ? ?

What can we learn from your organization? Share with us your inclusion story. ?