How Disability ERGs are Making a Difference

These employee groups foster community, provide information and normalize inclusion in the workplace.?

Most large employers support employee resource groups, or ERGs, in the workplace. An ERG is an employee-led group of workers with a shared background, experience or interest, such as women, LGBTQ workers or those living with disabilities.?

Groups like Google’s Disability Alliance ERG and Monster’s Abilities in Motion ERG aim to provide a safe space, support, guidance and access to resources for those living with or caring for someone with a disability, learning difference or special need.?

“Disability ERGs are groups of employees who come together to network and support one another around issues of disability culture, advocacy and community outreach,” says Kimberley Tyler-Smith of online resume site Resume Worded. “While some companies may be unaware of how they can use ERGs to improve their work environment, others have already seen how beneficial it is to have such groups in place.”?

Here are just a few ways disability ERGs are improving the workplace:?

Creating a community

Living with a disability can be isolating, and it isn’t something that everyone understands. ERGs give people a sense of belonging.?

“Having an ERG is like having a support group at work with people you can be fully transparent with about your diagnosis and how it affects your ability to navigate the workplace,” says Sari De, founder of DEI consultancy group Nine of Us.?

Providing resources and advice

ERGs can also be a source of information: Who’s the best doctor or therapist for a particular condition? How did you manage to get your meds covered by insurance? Have you tried this thing that I tried???

De says. “Each company has its own insurance plan, and it can be really complex to navigate, especially if you have a mental health diagnosis that makes it hard to absorb details,” De says. ““Members support one another through navigating the health care system.”?

This is true for differently abled people, but also for the people around them. “I am the sister of a disabled individual, and I have benefited greatly from participation in employee resource groups that focus on disability,” says Patricia Roberts, chief operating officer of 529 gifting site GiftofCollege.com.??

Normalizing differences

Many employees hide their disabilities in order to avoid stigmas or unconscious bias. Disability ERGs help normalize the presence of disabilities in the workplace and address misconceptions, says Kate Harrison, HR director at nonprofit charity Car Donation Centers.?

“Our company disability ERG has seen resounding success,” Harrison says. “We have seen attendance steadily increase for our employees facing various disabilities, as well as others who seek to better their understanding. We have observed a visible change in employee motivation and morale.”?

Acting as advocates

A successful ERG group can act as a powerful force in advocating for its members. Disability ERGs can help employers understand what their workers need, without putting any one employee on the spot. “Together, as a community, disability ERGs can collect feedback and deliver feedback from their members to the company’s decision makers,” says Sejal Daswani, chief people officer at marketing platform Iterable.?

This can lead to HR departments implementing policies, perks and benefits that support the needs of their diverse workforce.?

“My ERG has been instrumental in advocating for change within our company,” says Shahzaib Arshad, co-founder of TheBalanceWork.com. “We’ve successfully lobbied for policy changes that make our workplace more inclusive for people with disabilities.”?

Educating members

One of the benefits of an ERG is that members can host helpful events and speakers.?

“Some disability ERGs are educating employees about important financial topics that can be of value to the disabled, like ABLE plans,” Roberts says. (ABLE plans provide a way for people living with a disability to save for expenses without affecting any means-tested public benefits they might receive.)

“Individuals impacted by disability are extremely grateful for information that can help in management or improvement of their situation,” Roberts says.

When it comes to employees with disabilities, ERGs give business leaders a chance to listen. “That’s exactly what disability ERGs facilitate,” Daswani says. “When business leaders listen to ERG leaders, they’re embracing input from the visible members of a relatively invisible community and, together, identify areas of opportunity to be better stewards of inclusivity.”?