A key part of EARN’s work is partnering with industry groups and professional associations on their member education efforts around disability inclusion, which is an important workforce strategy in today’s competitive marketplace. When these groups engage with EARN on such efforts, they become part of the Inclusion@Work Network and help to operationalize EARN’s Inclusion@Work Framework.
Organizations in the Inclusion@Work Network receive assistance from EARN’s team of subject matter experts, who help them develop customized plans to implement member communication, training and programming related to inclusive workplace practices that welcome the skills and talents of people with disabilities.
Inclusion@Work Network Members:
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce
EARN and the U.S Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) have partnered with the Cincinnati Chamber for several years, helping the Chamber reach its members with disability-related diversity and inclusion policies and practices. EARN has participated in several of the Chamber’s Diverse by Design symposia and other disability inclusion efforts led by the Chamber.
CSAVR/The NET
EARN works with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and their National Employment Team (The NET) to reach their network of 80 public vocational rehabilitation programs across the U.S. with EARN’s employer resources. These resources are shared with the NET’s employer clients to help expand disability inclusion practices in their workforces.
Disability:IN Greater Kansas City
EARN and ODEP presented a keynote and a workshop at the Disability:IN Greater Kansas City (GKC) Disability Inclusion Summit in April 2019. The Summit is an annual conference that brings together stakeholders from business, disability employment providers and government to discuss topics related to disability diversity in the workplace. Building up to the conference, EARN also partnered with Disability:IN GKC to present several webinars on the Inclusion@Work Framework.
Disability:IN Ohio
EARN has partnered with Disability:IN Ohio to present webinars on the Inclusion@Work Framework building up to their annual conference. EARN will also be working with members of Disability:IN Ohio on in-person events on disability inclusion.
International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA)
EARN has worked with EAPA for several years to educate employee assistance professionals on disability inclusion in the workplace. Topics explored with EAPA have included mental health and drug and alcohol addiction in the workplace, and stay-at-work and return-to-work strategies for people with disabilities. EARN has presented keynote addresses and workshops at the EAPA annual conference and participated in member roundtables to discuss advancing disability inclusion. Future endeavors include journal articles and further EAPA member education.
EmployAbility Dallas
For several years, EARN has participated in EmployAbility Dallas’s Spring Educational Event at Southwest Airlines Headquarters. Most recently, EARN presented on “Mentoring as a Disability Inclusion Strategy” and disseminated the EARN Workplace Mentoring Playbook (link to Mentoring Playbook when complete). EARN has also hosted discussions with Bank of America, Southwest Airlines and Marriott on their disability inclusion efforts.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Washington, DC (EO-DC)
EARN and ODEP have worked with EO-DC for several years, educating EO-DC members about opportunities for disability inclusion in the organization, as well as within their own companies. Activities have included trainings, events and disability mentoring networking activities. EARN is currently working with EO-DC to assist them in developing a disability mentoring component for aspiring entrepreneurs with disabilities as part of their existing Accelerator program.
MRA
EARN has worked with MRA, a nonprofit trade association for human resource professionals and employers, to educate their members on disability inclusion and the Inclusion@Work Framework. Activities have included participation at their annual Diversity and Inclusion conference and member webinars and trainings, as well as customized trainings for MRA staff.
National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC)
EARN has worked with NDMC to promote the importance and impact of mentoring for people with disabilities and the use of mentoring as a workplace disability inclusion strategy. Activities have included workshops and presentations, as well as collaborating on the development of the EARN/NDMC Workplace Mentoring Playbook.
Virginia Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (VaSHHRA)
EARN has worked with VaSHHRA to deliver disability inclusion training to their membership, made up of healthcare HR professionals throughout Virginia. EARN is also developing a series of customized webinars for VaSHHRA members.
Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce
EARN has worked with the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce for a number of years, delivering training and information on disability inclusion and the intersection of the disability and LGBT populations. Activities have included in person workshops, webinars, newsletter articles and an educational tool on the intersection of disability and LGBT identities. Read Disability Inclusion: Exploring the Intersections.
To learn more about the Inclusion@Work Network and how your organization can join, please email askearn@cornell.edu.