Every October, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) sponsors National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The theme for NDEAM 2024 is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” Learn more about NDEAM at the ODEP website.
Disability Belongs™ knows that awareness months like NDEAM play a big role in changing attitudes around disabled people in the workforce. Studies have shown that people with disabilities want to work and, with the proper accommodations, can be highly successful at their jobs. But bias and stigma often prevent disabled people from finding employment. We hope that NDEAM 2024 will serve as a reminder that disabled people belong in the workforce, just like they belong in all aspects of community.
Catch Up On What You Missed
Universal Design: Enabling Good Jobs for All
To enable access to good jobs for all, employers must consider how to make work environments, processes, and practices inclusive and accessible. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides guidance on what needs to be done, it isn’t always clear how to build more accessible practices. Implementing universal design concepts can help employers to create experiences during hiring and beyond that work better for all employees and allow people with and without disabilities to thrive. Join Meaghan Walls, CEO of Centers for Disability Inclusion, and Rebecca Langbein, Manager of the National Leadership Program at Disability Belongs™, for this session to learn how universal design can eliminate barriers to good jobs.
Strategies for Employers to Increase Self-Identification of Veterans and People with Disabilities
Join Rob Arndt, CEO of BufferSprings and a disabled Marine veteran, as he leverages 25 years of military and civilian recruiting expertise to help employers unlock fast-track strategies for inclusive recruitment and retention, which can promote greater disability and other forms of self-identification in the workplace. Discover agile methods for upskilling, leadership development, and real community engagement that drive workplace pride and inclusivity. Come away with quick wins, actionable insights, and a plan to create immediate impact for your organization’s hiring.
Key Communication Strategies for Engaging in the Accommodation Process with AskJAN
Effective communication is an essential component of the interactive accommodation process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This Job Accommodation Network (JAN) training highlighted the importance of constructive dialogue and collaborative exploration of effective and reasonable job accommodation solutions tailored to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Participants learned that there is no universal accommodation solution, that each accommodation situation is unique, and that successful outcomes in the accommodation process can be achieved through effective communication. The training included practical strategies for engaging in accommodation discussions and JAN resources to support the process.
Employer Panel: How H-E-B and the Texas Workforce Commission Created Access to Good Jobs for People with Disabilities
Benigno Aceves, the State Office Program Specialist, Business Relations for Texas Workforce Commission, Vocational Rehabilitation Division discussed the We Hire Ability program, which recognizes Texas employers who are committed to hiring people with disabilities and their efforts to create an inclusive workforce. Samantha Moreno, Disability Bridges Program Manager at H-E-B, discussed the Disability Bridges project and their mission to improve the lives of Texans by providing opportunities and removing barriers for Texans with disabilities. This panel discussion was moderated by Kevin McCloskey, Senior Director of Leadership and Workforce Development at Disability Belongs™.
Animating Disability with “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory”
With one-in-five people having a disability in the U.S. today, the lack of representation – less than two percent in children’s television – means that millions of children are unable to see themselves in media today. DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures, and Amblin Entertainment’s “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” is helping to ensure more representation. At the end of Season 1, viewers learned that Brooklynn has lost her arm and is now an amputee. In Season 2, now streaming on Netflix, viewers will learn what Brooklynn has been doing.
With a new voice actor needed for Brooklynn as the new series went into production, the team saw an opportunity to ensure authenticity in recasting the role. Kiersten Kelly, who was born without her right forearm, grew up with no one looking like her in the entertainment industry and now is able to be that person for today’s children. In addition, Peter Lee, a writer who is an amputee, was first brought on as a consultant on Brooklynn’s storylines, and soon then joined the writers’ room to contribute to the entire series.
As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October, it’s important to note that by hiring disabled individuals, this series is not only more inclusive on screen but also increases the number of disabled talent working within the industry.
Join Kelly, Lee, Executive Producer Scott Kreamer, and Story Editor Bethany Armstrong Johnson for a conversation about the importance of disability representation in “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory.” The panel was moderated by Lauren Appelbaum, SVP of Entertainment and News Media at Disability Belongs™.
Career Strategy Conversations: Entertainment Industry
Following the pandemic and strikes, getting a job in the entertainment industry is increasingly difficult. Disability Belongs™ hosted a series of conversations with two studio partners to learn about ways in which they are trying to help disabled creatives find employment. The first conversation, shared at the link below, featured Warner Bros. Discovery’s Grace Moss (VP, DEI Pipeline Programs), moderated by Disability Belongs™’ Lauren Appelbaum. The second conversation, which is only available to people who registered for the live event, featured DreamWorks Animation’s Sarah Park (Recruiter, Early Career Programs & Diversity Outreach), moderated by Disability Belongs™’ Lawon Exum.
