Are You An Advocate For Others In The Workplace???

Dear Luminaries,?

As we kick off August, I wanted to remind our community that July was Disability Pride Month and I’d like to take some time to reflect upon my work here at Luminary as a woman on the autism spectrum. Creating an anti-ableist space where people can come as they are is important to me, and it is why I love what I do. Working as one of Luminary’s Community Managers makes me feel valuable and proud. I have been working here for over three and a half years (since Luminary launched) and have gotten to know many Luminary Members and Luminary staff. While I feel my unique skill set and neurodiversity is celebrated at Luminary, I know that this is not the case for disabled women universally.

Only 31.9% of women with disabilities between the ages of 25 and 54 were employed compared to 37.1% of men. Additionally only 16.8% of disabled women make accommodation requests at work. An accommodation is an adjustment or change that the employer can make so that the person with a disability can successfully complete their job. If you have a disability you are legally entitled to fair and reasonable accommodations under the ADA. Some accommodations that help me on the job are clear and written instructions, as well as a flexible schedule.

Wondering how your workplace can be more accessible to people with disabilities? Here are some ideas I have to share with you:

1.?Hire us!

The first step towards being inclusive of those with disabilities is to make sure that they are represented in the workplace. With 1 in 5 adults having some sort of disability, it is important that we are included. People with disabilities can make great employees and it’s important to have them as part of your team!

2.?Provide support for your employees with disabilities.

Supports can include accommodations, job coaching, assistive technology or other forms of help. Accommodations can vary widely from person to person but can help people with disabilities successfully complete their job.

3.?Commit to making anti ableist spaces and communicate your commitment to the disability community throughout your company.

Make sure your disabled staff feel comfortable and accepted when discussing their disability and make sure all levels of your organization are aware and accommodating of differences!

4.?Know you benefit from hiring people with disabilities too.?While inclusion is so important it is not the only reason to hire people with disabilities - research shows it’s good business! Some research has shown that people with disabilities have lower turnover rates and lower absenteeism than people without disabilities. Some other studied benefits include higher staff morale, and you may be eligible for tax credits or other incentives.

5.?Educate yourself and others about employment of people with disabilities.

People with disabilities often face barriers to employment. Be aware of certain misconceptions you may have when hiring and remember to include us. As the autistic community likes to say “Nothing about us without us!”

I want to extend my deepest thank you to the Luminary community that has embraced me with open arms, and I want our Members with disabilities to know that they are accepted here, for every part of who they are.

We are all #InThisTogether ,?

Lauren Mcarthur, Community Manager at Luminary

__________________________________________________________________

Next up on the #InThisTogether Tour CHICAGO!

We can't wait for our 5th stop of the?#InThisTogether National Tour?in?Chicago ?on?August 22nd & 23rd! Whether you’re a business owner, a side hustler, climbing the corporate ladder, figuring out your next step or simply looking to expand your network, we can’t do it without you, so?come sit at our table!?Registration is now OPEN.

Click here to learn more!

Luminary Reflections Blog Post: Why a Small Network is More Effective Than a Large Network

Networking is a necessary part of modern life, especially when it comes to one’s career. However, it can be easy to feel helpless or confused while establishing your network–especially if you’re just starting. Any woman can, and should, create a network that will work for her. Read why a small network is more effective than a large network.

Click here to read now!

Women’s eNews Selects ’21 Leaders for the 21st Century’ 2022 14 Individuals and Organizations Advancing Gender Equality

We are honored to have Luminary make the?’21 Leaders for the 21st Century’?honorees for 2022?by?Women’s eNews, the award-winning, non-profit global news organization. Announced today, 14 individuals and organizations were selected for their unwavering and pioneering support for gender equality from the health, technology and business sectors to the voting booth.?

Click here to learn more!

Yelp Black In Business Summit in partnership with Luminary!

We’re excited to announce our partnership with?Yelp for Business?for their second annual virtual?#YelpBlackInBusinessSummit in celebration of National Black Business Month! When you attend, you’ll hear inspiring stories, business tips, and lessons learned from Black entrepreneurs covering topics like branding, marketing, finance, mental health, building community, and more. Hear from some amazing Luminary Members,?Miara Shawand?Chantay Golson. Whether you’re a seasoned expert, within your first few years, or just starting out, there’s something for you.

Click here to learn more!

Luminary Corporate Member Saks Off 5th Broadens Its Resale Offerings With Rent The Runway Partnership

Forbes?released an article last week announcing a?Saks Off 5th?and?Rent The Runway?partnership that will help both companies capitalize on the growing demand for secondhand designer clothes.?Read the full article here!

__________________________________________________________________________