April 19, 2017
In this Issue: Small Business Inclusion, Deaf History Month & More
WHAT'S NEW
Small Business Success Stories
Want to know what works for small businesses when it comes to disability inclusion? Check out EARN’s recently enlarged Employer Success Story section, which now includes new profiles of five small businesses: 1st Bank, Division of Glacier Bank; Volk Packaging Corporation; Avery W. Hall Insurance Agency; Thomas Hooker Brewing Company and Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Developed jointly by the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Business Leadership Network – an EARN partner – these profiles help illuminate strategies that small businesses across the nation are using to ensure their workplaces welcome the skills and talents of people with disabilities. Read the success stories.
Celebrating Deaf History Month
In honor of Deaf History Month, which ran from March 13 to April 15, the U.S. Department of Labor published a blog post noting the many contributions of American workers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Written by Renee Tajudeen, director of policy communication and outreach for the department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the post celebrates the achievements of people both high profile – such as former MLB outfielder Curtis Pride, inventor Thomas Edison and Girls Scouts of the USA founder Juliette Low – and every day workers, such as public servants, teachers and retail workers, all of whom play an important role in the nation’s workforce every day. Read the blog post.
PBS NewsHour Segment on Disability Employment
A recent PBS NewsHour segment explored the issue of disability employment, taking a deep look at why the employment rate of Americans with disabilities continues to lag behind that of those without disabilities. The feature explored not only the various reasons for the inequity, but also how many smart employers are discovering that tapping into this talent pool offers their business a competitive edge. Among those interviewed for the segment were representatives from companies such as EY, which has in recent years been recognized for its commitment to and success in recruiting, hiring, advancing and retaining employees with disabilities. Watch the segment or read the transcript.
Accessible Technology “Policy Matters”
Just like technology itself, regulations related to accessible information and communications technology are continually evolving. To help employers, employees and technology providers learn about and understand the latest federal regulatory developments impacting them and their work, the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) developed “Policy Matters.” This online resource center provides centralized access to policy analysis and news regarding laws and regulations, court decisions and government resources related to the accessibility of technology used in all aspects of employment. Visit PEAT’s Policy Matters.
ASKEARN.ORG SPOTLIGHT
A Roadmap for Developing Effective Collaborations & Partnerships to Advance the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities in the Federal Sector
This guide, one of three in a series, explores how strong partnerships and collaborations can help federal agencies meet their disability employment objectives, especially in relation to updates to Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act issued in January of this year. It outlines specific strategies agencies can use to form and nurture relationships in order to increase the recruitment, hiring, advancement and retention of people with disabilities in the federal workforce and links to helpful resources to get started.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
April 20, 2017, 2:00 p.m. ET
Virtual Talk: Making Taleo Accessible
Taleo is the leading talent management system used by HR professionals worldwide. In this webinar, Senior Director of Oracle’s Accessibility Program Peter Wallack and Product Management Director of Taleo Development Ali Moosvi will discuss the challenges and successes their team has experienced, as well as the accessibility features currently in production. Learn more about the PEATTalk.
May 18, 2017
Deadline: Introduction to Inclusive Talent Acquisition
This free, self-paced online course, co-developed by Perkins School for the Blind and Harvard Extension School, helps employers learn how to attract and support a diverse workforce. Through four quick and engaging sessions, participants can learn how to identify barriers to employment; recruit, interview and onboard candidates of diverse backgrounds and abilities; and improve workplace accessibility to support candidates with disabilities. The current iteration runs until May 18. Learn more about the course.
EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo develops and grows its disability inclusion efforts through its Disabilities and Strategies Segment, which is headed by Kathy Martinez, senior vice president in enterprise marketing. In this recent interview with DIVERSEability Magazine, Martinez and her colleague Dena Wainwright, program manager of Wells Fargo’s Enterprise Online Accessibility Program, discussed the company’s commitment to disability employment and understanding of the value people with disabilities bring to its company and workplaces across America.
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) is a resource for employers seeking to recruit, hire, retain and advance qualified employees with disabilities. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy under a cooperative agreement with The Viscardi Center. For more information, visit AskEARN.org
Preparation of this material was funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, Grant No. [OD-26451-14-75-4-36]. This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
