October is Disabilities Awareness Month: A Time to Reflect and Act

Disabilities Awareness Month—three words that encompass much more than we often realize. When we hear the word "disability," certain images may come to mind, shaped by our own perspective, or "lens." However, disabilities can be both visible and invisible, and our lens may sometimes give us a skewed view. As HR and Talent Acquisition professionals, we are uniquely positioned to create meaningful change for individuals with disabilities in the workplace. While adding something new to our workload may seem daunting, small, intentional changes can have a significant impact.

Below are a few actionable ideas and resources to help you take small but significant steps toward creating a more inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities—the largest diversity group in the workplace.

1.????????? Expand Your Perspective

True change starts from within. Take a moment to broaden your understanding by watching a TED Talk, reading an article, or listening to a podcast. This can help you reflect on your own perspective and biases.

·??????????????? CDC: Disability and Health:? https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability.html

?·??????????????? TED Talk: "I'm Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much" by Stella Young: https://www.ted.com/talks/stella_young_i_m_not_your_inspiration_thank_you_very_much?subtitle=en

?2.????????? Increase Awareness at Work

There are many free resources available to promote awareness in your workplace. If your organization hasn’t taken action in the past, set a goal to implement one initiative this month.

·??????????????? Ideas from the U.S. Department of Labor:? https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam/ideas

?·??????????????? Campaign for Disability Employment Resources:? https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/campaign-for-disability-employment

???3.????????? Make Your Workplace More Inclusive

Explore ways to make your organization more accessible and welcoming to individuals with disabilities. Could you create a bridge to make hiring easier and more inclusive?

·??????????????? JAN Toolkit: Video Training Resources:? https://askjan.org/toolkit/Video-Training-Resources.cfm

?4.????????? Partner with Community Organizations

Connect with local community organizations to expand your reach and increase your exposure to diverse groups, including people with disabilities. Local resources such as Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and American Job Centers can provide support, often free of charge. Explore job boards like AbilityJobs for targeted recruitment (note that job boards may have fees).

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Northwest Passage Consulting offers DEI consulting services to support your journey toward creating a more inclusive workplace. For a deeper conversation on how we can assist, please reach out at [email protected].