EARN Newsletter: December 2023

EARN in Action

Planning for Inclusive Hiring

Come January, many employers will begin to recruit and hire talent to meet their workforce needs. Building a foundation for an inclusive environment from day one can help organizations of all sizes and industries meet their diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) goals and start the year with fresh perspectives. EARN has easy-to-use resources for employers that address inclusion and accessibility at every stage of the hiring process.

• Job Descriptions: A job description that covers more than just basic information can help disabled job candidates identify whether the position would be a good match and serve as a tool employers can use to assess work performance.
• Interviews: Before conducting an interview, it is important to ensure that your organization’s processes provide equal job opportunities for applicants with disabilities.
• Onboarding: Fully accessible onboarding policies and processes help ensure employees with disabilities feel welcome within the organization from day one—and play a key role in fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

Disability Employment in the News

Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On December 3, EARN celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) to encourage employers to support the dignity, rights, and well-being of their employees with disabilities. Led by the United Nations (UN), this year’s theme is “united in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for, with, and by persons with disabilities.” The UN remains committed to fulfilling all human rights for people with disabilities, leveraging the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to strengthen their efforts. The UN and other international organizations hosted events worldwide to celebrate IDPD.

Leading in Disability Inclusion Means Profit

Accenture collaborated with the American Association of People with Disabilities and EARN’s partner Disability:IN to publish new research titled “The Disability Inclusion Imperative.” This report reveals that organizations outperform competitors when they champion disability inclusion practices and processes. This research also informed a framework to help business leaders become more intentional about including people with disabilities in the workplace.

Implementing Equitable Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how employers screen job candidates, streamline the application process, monitor employee actions, and provide employee training. EARN’s partner, the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT), offers a toolkit to help employers adopt Equitable AI Principles. The “AI & Disability Inclusion Toolkit” includes actionable strategies employers can use to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all existing and future employees, including those with disabilities.

Ask EARN

Employer Spotlight

Strategy Spotlight: Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives and Partnerships

This month, EARN is spotlighting neurodiversity hiring initiatives and partnerships—one strategy organizations of all sizes use to recruit and hire neurodivergent workers. Through specialized programs or general hiring practices, many organizations create and grow partnerships with nonprofit organizations, service providers, and state and local agencies to ensure these hiring programs can be successful and impactful. Learn how organizations embrace partnerships to develop a pipeline of qualified, skilled candidates with disabilities.

The content in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.