Ways You Can Attract Members of the Disability Community to Your Organization

It's a privilege to live in a time where previously ignored groups and communities have a prominent voice and a more visible impact on society. 

A wise organization looks to attract all sorts of individuals impartially.

 When searching for new hires, the perfect candidate may be available in a place you have yet to consider.

Regrettably, studies show that the employment gap between workers with disabilities and others remains significant. 

Review ways you can do more to attract members of the developmental disability (DD) community to your business and tap into a rich talent pool.

Build an Inviting Atmosphere Adding accommodations and enthusiastic job postings may encourage people to consider your company. 

Still, you'll have a hard time keeping them if you're not the kind of organization that valuable teammates want to work for. 

Assess how you interact with your staff and whether you show favoritism to those who look and act like you.

It's nearly impossible to find your blind spots without someone else to point them out.

 You may need an outside consultant for an unbiased opinion since employees and partners may have difficulty being completely transparent.

 A mentor or coach can help you develop specific goals to become a better leader. 

Start with these essential qualities:

•      

•      Communication:      This enables you to share      your vision with your team      and gives you a way to receive feedback.      

•      Empathy:      Empathy allows      you to understand your team      and customers on a deeper level, fostering an enriching connection.      

•      Resilience:      Resilience allows you to stay focused on worthwhile goals and      continue moving forward in the face of setbacks.      

•      Decision-making:      Confident decisions keep your company agile in the ever-changing      business environment and give your team members conviction.      

•      Delegation:      Excellent      delegation skills      allow you to effectively manage your time and resources so you can      focus on the most important tasks and maintain efficiency.

Improve Recruiting Efforts

 Review your job posts and recruiting documents. Is your desire to warmly welcome applicants with disabilities crystal clear, or did you relegate those points to a footnote? Dedicate a portion of all of your recruiting materials to highlighting your interest in candidates having disabilities. Create a document you can direct toward folks in the DD community that highlights your inclusive culture.

If your file is a PDF, a PDF editor makes it easy to alter the document after you upload it into the online program. For example, you may find that your word usage is insensitive or that you need to include images that better represent the wide variety of people with disabilities from different cultures and backgrounds.

Advance Your Culture by Adjusting Your Language Ask about preferred terminology when interviewing and interacting with folks. Within many marginalized communities, debates continue about proper terms, and vocabulary can change over time. Ask prospective workers about how they prefer to be addressed and tips about respectful language. You don't have to tiptoe around the fact of the disability, but you shouldn't make it the central aspect of a person's identity.

Offer Scholarships and Internships Help your future team members flourish with educational opportunities that show your solidarity and help them reach their full potential. Create internships that prepare students for the workplace. Donate to scholarships or offer your own, which also spotlights you as an ally.

A company that misses the opportunity to attract and accommodate individuals with disabilities loses a wealth of talent and a necessary perspective. Search for ways to attract more individuals from the DD community as new hires for your business.

thanks

by

Don Lewis