Disability Friendly

Create a true culture of inclusion Although progress has been made around equality for many marginalized groups, people with disabilities are still massively underrepresented in organizations’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. People with disabilities make up at least 15% of the population, yet they are still too often overlooked. Many people with disabilities are highly motivated, create fantastic work, and add tremendous value to organizations. Disability Friendly is a clarion call to businesses around the world to realize the opportunities presented by employing people with disabilities. It explains the potential of disabled employees, how to create a culture of inclusion, and, in the process, help people with disabilities become proud contributors. In this book, you’ll find: Concrete strategies for redesigning work and its processes to embrace all contributing citizens Ways to incorporate disability supports into a business’ diversity and inclusion practices and initiatives Methods for reducing the massive cost associated with government disability support payments and repurpose these as investments in the human potential of people with disabilities Ideal for executives, managers, and other business leaders, Disability Friendly will also earn a place in the libraries of Diversity and Inclusion and Human Resources professionals seeking to make an impact on their company and on behalf of a marginalized group.

Foreword xiii Acknowledgments xvii Introduction xxi I What the World Is Missing When It Overlooks People with Disabilities 1 1 Disability Inclusion Benefits Everyone 3 2 The Power of Disability Entrepreneurship 15 3 Disability Is Essential to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Movement 43 4 Inclusive Design: Enabling Work by All 57 II What People with Disabilities Want Everyone else to Know 63 5 Getting to Equal by Erasing Fear 65 6 Overcome Ableism by Recognizing Our Common Humanity 75 7 “You Don’t Look Disabled” 85 8 Personal Experiences That Shaped My Concepts of Disability Culture 93 III How to Become Disability Friendly: the Pillars of Disability Inclusion 105 9 Corporate Culture and Disability Culture 107 10 Talent Acquisition Through Outreach and Recruitment 133 11 Hiring and Retaining the Best Talent 145 12 Employers’ Slow Progress to Disability- Friendly Inclusion 157 13 Communicating the Organization’s Policies and Practices 169 14 Accessible Information and Communications Technology for All 175 15 Blueprint for Disability- Friendly Workplaces of the Future: How to Create Inclusive, Safe, and Captivating Workplaces 185 Appendix: The Viscardi Center’s Curriculum for Its National Center on Disability Entrepreneurship 203 References 207 About the Author 215 Index 217