June 28, 2017
In this Issue: Conference Recaps, Kentucky Task Force and More
WHAT'S NEW
Taking the Disability Inclusion Message to SHRM
Last month, members of the EARN team travelled to New Orleans for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) annual conference, where they had the opportunity to speak with HR and diversity and inclusion professionals from across the nation about the benefits of and strategies for recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing qualified people with disabilities. EARN exhibited at the conference together with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which has an Alliance with SHRM, and its Job Accommodation Network. Learn about the ODEP/SHRM Alliance.
DirectEmployers Association Presentation Recap
Earlier this year, EARN was pleased to be on the agenda at the 2017 DirectEmployers Association Annual Meeting and Conference, where it co-presented on disability-inclusive outreach and recruitment strategies with the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology. In a recent article, DIVERSEability magazine summarized the main takeaways from the session. Chief among them? “In an economy where finding qualified employees can be a challenge, diversifying your workforce can be a strategy for success.” Read the DIVERSEability magazine article.
Advancing Inclusion in the Bluegrass State
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin recently announced the launch of a task force to examine strategies for increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Bluegrass State. Among those serving on the task force are state policymakers, disability advocates and employers. Over the coming months, the group will be working with the State Exchange on Employment and Disability – a U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy initiative – to develop its recommendations, including related to workplace policies and practices. Learn more about the Task Force.
Increasing Disability Representation on the Big Screen
Since its launch in Fall 2016, ABC’s hit comedy “Speechless” has gained millions of fans. Starring a teenager with cerebral palsy, it’s also helped shine a light on disability inclusion in film and television. Now, the show’s Executive Producer, Scott Silveri, is urging other Hollywood leaders to cast more actors with disabilities, noting during an award acceptance speech earlier this month that it’s their responsibility to “represent society as a whole, and you can’t do that without representing disabilities.” Read more about Silveri’s call to action.
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ASKEARN.ORG SPOTLIGHT
Multi-Media Center
For guidance on disability-inclusive culture and outreach and recruitment strategies in multi-media format, check out EARN’s online Multi-Media Center, which has videos from disability employment subject matter experts John Kemp and Dinah Cohen, as well as links to numerous other resources, including training materials for use in the workplace produced by EARN and other U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Disability Employment Policy-funded entities.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Ends July 14, 2017
National Online Dialogue: Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Online Dialogue (ePolicyWorks)
Employers are invited to contribute to a national online dialogue taking place now through July 14 focused on how to best disseminate policy guidance for helping workers who become ill or injured stay at work (SAW) or return to work (RTW) as soon as possible following recovery. This online dialogue is being hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy’s ePolicyWorks initiative in coordination with its SAW/RTW Policy Collaborative. Learn more about the online dialogue.
Thursday, July 20, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Webinar: Planning and Producing Accessible Videos (ADA National Network)
When creating videos, whether for public consumption via the web or social media or use internally for training or e-learning, it’s essential to “think accessible” from the start. In this webinar, participants will learn basic best practices for video accessibility, including captioning and audio description; accessibility issues with video players; and important considerations when planning new projects. Register for the July 20 webinar.
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EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT
Dover Downs Hotel and Casino
For more than five years, Delaware’s Dover Downs Hotel and Casino has been taking proactive steps to foster a disability-inclusive workplace culture – and it’s been reaping the rewards on every level. The small business’s strategies for success include partnerships with community-based organizations, work experience programs for youth with disabilities and top-down support from the company’s leadership.
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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.