EmployAbility Dallas

Degree created a tool for fitness companies building their inclusive talent pool.

The site also includes free educational resources to help employers make their spaces accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.

https://www.degreedeodorant.com/us/trainersforhire/

Trainers for hire | Degree® US Trainers for hire

10 Things Everyone Should Know About People With Disabilities And Employment Before another disability employment month ends, it may help to review some of the things that disability employment experts and people with disabilities know pretty well already, but others, including some disabled people, might not be so clear about.

Looking for an internship? The deadline to apply has been extended to Monday, October 18, 2021.

https://resumedatabase.disabilityin.org/internship-event-submissions/

Dallas mayor proposes the city’s first-ever advisory group for people with disabilities Mayor Eric Johnson is advocating for a new advisory group that would address challenges people with disabilities face when looking for a job, housing and transportation.

From The White House...

A Proclamation on National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2021 | The White House When we passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 31 years ago, our Nation moved closer to fulfilling its foundational promise of liberty,

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson met with our new chairman of the board, Michael Quezada (UT Southwestern Medical Center) and members Beth West (Lennox ), Deb Jones (Texas Workforce Commission ), and Kelly Burton (AT&T) to announce the formation of the city’s Commission on Disabilities.

https://www.employabilitydallas.org/news/dallas-mayor-announces-commission-with-employability

Dallas Mayor Announces City's Commission on Disabilities — EmployAbility Dallas Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson met with our new chairman of the board, Michael Quezada (UT Southwestern) and members Beth West (Lennox), Deb Jones (Texas Workforce Commission), and Kelly Burton (AT&T) and announced the formation of the city’s commission on disabilities.

Not sure where to look? Here are some ideas!



https://www.thehrdigest.com/job-boards-for-people-with-disabilities/

Job boards for people with disabilities Employment for people with disabilities is growing to introduce many remote and telecommuting jobs.

✅ Higher profit margins

✅ Diversifying company culture

✅ Increasing employee motivation

✅ Improving stability, decreasing turnover

✅ A vast, untapped labor pool

✅ Improving safety and security

✅ Improving the brand

✅ Compliance

✅ Management efficiency

✅ Federal and state tax incentives

https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/10-key-benefits-of-hiring-employees-with-disabilities

10 key benefits of hiring employees with disabilities It can help firms and clients improve their bottom line, while boosting diversity, team morale and community relations.

📢 From the Office of the Texas Governor:

"Do you know an employer, entrepreneur, volunteer, or local disability organization that has gone above and beyond the legal requirements to ensure full inclusion of people with disabilities in your community and in the workplace? If so, please help us acknowledge them by nominating them for a Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities’ Lex Frieden Employment Award as we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month."

🤠



https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/employment_awards

Lex Frieden Employment Awards The Lex Frieden Employment Awards are named in honor of disability rights champion and independent living movement leader, Lex Frieden. One of the chief architects of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he is the UT Chancellor’s Health Fellow on Disability, a professor of biomedical informatics a...

If you missed our latest Education Series Event, we have posted the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zeBxhCFjJA&t=15s

Education Series – Service Animals in the Workplace During this online education event, service animal and accommodation experts Linda Carter Batiste, Principal Consultant/Legislative Specialist, Job Accommoda...

A good read about Wendy Lu's experience getting a job.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/disability-obvious-job-interviews-bad-120015166.html

My Disability Is Obvious In Job Interviews. Is That A Bad Thing? “So… how does the winter weather affect you?” I sat across from the person interviewing me for a job I really wanted, totally unsure of how to respond. It was the spring of 2016, and I had applied for more than 100 jobs in my chosen field of journalism. I was about to finish graduate school, a...

📅 Education Event - Free Registration is Open

Linda Batiste, Principal Consultant/Legislative Specialist with Job Accommodation Network, and Dan Rollings, South Central Program Director and Alexandra Walch, Client Services Program Manager with Canine Companions will discuss the increase in requests for service animals as employees are returning to the workplace and address employer concerns and accommodations.



https://www.eventbrite.com/e/service-animals-and-returning-to-the-workplace-tickets-162714301857

Service Animals and Returning to the Workplace This seminar is intended to provide understanding of service animals as an accommodation as employees begin returning to work.

Agreed!



https://www.marketwatch.com/story/disabled-workers-are-essential-to-the-economys-recovery-11625165507

Opinion: Disabled workers are essential to the economy’s recovery The pandemic hit disabled workers hard, and workplace safety is still being ignored as businesses reopen

""...the future lies in the fact that there is a deep-seated bond between the lived experience of disability and innovation that can ultimately change the world for the better if only given the resources to do so."



https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathankaufman/2021/06/18/mindset-matters-how-an-upstart-like-smart-job-llc-is-disrupting-the-impact-investing-world-and-offering-a-vision-for-the-future/?sh=7679e24690d1

Mindset Matters: How An Upstart Like Smart Job LLC Is Disrupting The Impact Investing World And Offering A Vision For The Future The column highlights the launch of Smart Job LLC a new player to the ESG and impact investing ecosystem whose mission is to close the disability wealth gap and create a "smarter" business ecosystem for the 21st Century.

https://www.govexec.com/management/2021/05/how-be-inclusive-employees-mental-health-disabilities/174235/

How to be Inclusive of Employees with Mental Health Disabilities The best way to honor Mental Health Awareness Month is to understand how your actions affect others.

"Although 90% of companies claim to prioritize diversity, only 4% consider disability in those initiatives."

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/3-ways-disability-inclusion-can-shape-the-new-decade-of-innovation/

Is your company one of the Valuable 500?

3 ways companies can support disability inclusion and boost innovation Here are three ways businesses can strategically embed disability inclusion in their organizations to future-proof their business and expand opportunities.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulamorgan/2021/04/30/looking-at-the-bigger-picture--everyone-can-make-a-difference-for-disability-inclusion-at-work/?sh=5f30c3db7d27

Looking At The Bigger Picture – Everyone Can Make A Difference For Disability Inclusion At Work We all have a part to play in making recent progress more permanent and in furthering efforts to increase diversity and inclusion, so let’s start implementing these strategies today to build a better tomorrow. Consider these methods for advocating for a more inclusive environment.

Bank of America showing an impressive amount of care for their employees. 👏👏👏
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“Part of our challenge was getting our teammates to understand why we needed them to be home,” he says. “A lot of our employees live, work and play together.”
Feinour set up personalized trainings to get his team comfortable with the WFH tech they hadn’t used before...

To foster connection and communication, Feinour had weekly mailings sent to his employees at their homes, which included cards, newsletters and games. One initiative involved gathering recipes to create a quarantine cookbook...

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https://www.benefitnews.com/news/bank-of-america-gets-creative-in-supporting-employees-with-disabilities

Bank of America gets creative in supporting employees with disabilities The pandemic has disproportionately affected employees with disabilities.

A personal story of disclosure in the workplace.

https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/ask-ardra-anything-when-should-i-disclose-my-ms-diagnosis-at-work

Ask Ardra Anything: When Should I Disclose My MS Diagnosis at Work? Multiple sclerosis is not something to be ashamed of, but the choice of when or if to share is entirely yours.

"Hiring a person with disabilities is not charity. It is good for your bottom-line."

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/03/22/why-hiring-a-person-with-disabilities-should-be-on.html

Why hiring a person with disabilities should be on your list of Covid-19 recovery to-do’s - Puget Sound Business Journal Hiring a person with disabilities is not charity. It is good for your bottom-line.

Something to consider in the hiring process...

Opinion | Why automated employment screening is even worse than it seems Using automation runs the risk of screening out people for attributes that have nothing to do with how they would perform their jobs.

"Promoting inclusion must go further than just addressing an individual’s disability ... Why? Because workers bring their whole selves to work, rather than just one aspect of themselves."

How To Create A Disability-Friendly Workplace Over the past year, the topic of inclusive workplaces has been heavily debated and become a high priority for employers across all industries. This effort to make employees from all backgrounds feel comfortable and welcome has major implications for individuals with disabilities as well.

Has virtual training helped someone you know?

Virtual Training May Help Young People With Autism Land Jobs Practicing job interview skills using a virtual simulator could significantly increase the odds that young adults with autism find employment, new research suggests.

"The Valuable 500 is the global CEO community revolutionising disability inclusion through business leadership and opportunity." The Valuable 500

https://www.thevaluable500.com/

Disability Is Your Business | The Valuable 500 ...Disability is your business The Valuable 500 is the global CEO community revolutionising disability inclusion through business leadership and opportunity. Join us to help build an inclusive world where everybody wins. The Valuable 500 The global movement putting disability on the business lea ...

A toolkit for small businesses to hire and retain employees.

Disability Employment Toolkit For Small Businesses Available The Northeast ADA Center toolkit features advice on disability employment best practices, along with guidance on Title I of the ADA.

A story of turning intent into action.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/01/05/inreturn-strategies-inclusion-disability/

Meet InReturn Strategies, a start-up intent on unlocking the value of America’s disabled workforce The Kansas City, Kan., company connects people with disabilities ― a chronically untapped talent pool ― with prospective employers.

A great story out of Georgia.

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2020/12/30/navigating-the-education-to-career-transition-as-a.html

Navigating the education-to-career transition as a person with a disability - Atlanta Business Chronicle Cristian Rogers is a 19-year-old man with Down syndrome living in Johns Creek, Georgia. After graduating from high school, Rogers began working at his local Hilton Garden Inn in June 2018.

"Even employers who hadn't committed to or even considered the notion of virtual employees had no choice but to make a go of it.

And, it seems to be working. The economy has stopped contracting, and unemployment has slowed. Employers are hiring again. Looking forward, HR professionals see recruitment and retention as a top challenge in 2021, along with attracting top talent."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/12/28/how-the-new-normal-of-remote-work-evens-the-playing-field-for-workers-with-disabilities/?sh=7d50e55b2a36

Council Post: How The New Normal Of Remote Work Evens The Playing Field For Workers With Disabilities With HR continuing to focus on workforce recruitment and retention, individuals with disabilities can represent both a new talent pool and a significant competitive advantage.

📢 Chairperson Applications Open Until January 8, 2021.

EmployAbility is currently accepting applications for Chairperson of the board. Application deadline is January 8, 2021. If you are interested in applying for this position, please reach out directly to James (Jim) Pierce at [email protected] before the deadline.

"Experts expressed guarded optimism as all workers face the uncertain prospects of more federal aid and the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ntide-november-2020-jobs-report-200000869.html

nTIDE November 2020 Jobs Report: Americans with Disabilities Remain Engaged in Labor Force Kessler Foundation and University of New Hampshire nTIDE Report—featuring A Little Something Extra Ice Cream, a family-owned business in Alabama run by young adults with disabilities

"We are a business with a social mission: to help individuals with Autism lead full and productive lives through the world of work. Through our separate enterprises — Spectrum Designs, Spectrum Bakes, and Spectrum Suds — we create opportunities for employment, empowerment, and growth."

Great concept. I wonder if they will ever open one in DFW. https://www.spectrumdesigns.org/

Spectrum Designs apparel & merchandise ExpertsOur highly-trained team has years of experience with apparel and promotional merchandise and access to over 100,000 items! There really isn’t anything we can’t help you with!

An advocate from DFW, Dylan M. Rafaty is up for a national award and you can vote!

https://www.oticon.com/inside-oticon/life-changing-technology/fop/finalist-2020/bios-advocacy

Advocacy Category Adult Our most diverse group of achievers. They share a passion to make the world a better place not only for people with hearing loss but for everyone.

If you missed our webinar with Derek Shields last month, watch an abbreviated version on our website. Thank you Derek!

Education Series: Disability Employment: 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act — EmployAbility Dallas In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we hosted Derek Shields of ForwardWorks for a webinar on October 6, 2020 to review trends in disability employment. This is an abbreviated ver

"Ethnically diverse teams are good for your company culture and can benefit your bottom line."
🙌 AGREED!

Tips for Hiring a Diverse Workforce Ethnically diverse teams are good for your company culture and can benefit your bottom line. Attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce starts with a thoughtful diversity, equity, and inclusion plan.

"Most notably, Ginsburg, who died Friday at the age of 87, wrote the majority opinion in the landmark 1999 ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. The decision affirmed the right of people with disabilities to live in the community.

“This big moment, and (Ginsburg’s) staunch affirmation of the human dignity of people with disabilities and their rightful place in the community of their choice, fundamentally changed the course of the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc."

Ginsburg Remembered For Impact On Disability Rights Best known for standing up for women's rights, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg also played an outsized role in ensuring the rights of people with disabilities, advocates say.

☞ Shields will present via Zoom
☞ Tue, October 6, 2020
☞ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
☞ FREE

Education Series Webinar: 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act: What have we learned, what are we doing, what should we be doing?

Disability Employment: 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act: What have we learned, what are we doing, what should we be doing?

"When organizations talk about diversity and inclusion they often forget to include disability..."

How employers can support employees with disabilities during the pandemic When organizations talk about diversity and inclusion they often forget to include disability, Toby Mildon, a diversity and inclusion architect, writes.

This gets complicated. Forbes with a look at ADA's applications and COVID-19.

ADA “Perceived As Disabled” Employment Lawsuits In The Age Of COVID-19 The ADA covers employees with disabilities, but less known is that it protects employees who don’t have a disability but are perceived as having one.

"The coronavirus pandemic is having a harsh impact on adults with disabilities, putting more pressure on employers to adopt better benefits and policies to support staff with special needs."

How to support employees with disabilities during COVID-19 From providing accessible tools to better employee training, here are some top strategies employers can employ to support staff with special needs.