Summary
"Development" in a job means training and helping employees learn new skills. For people with disabilities, this means making sure everyone can access all resources. Companies that do this often make more money and can even get special perks.
Welcome to this series of posts on Making Work Accessible! I’m so excited to share this deeper dive into accessibility at work, based on some content from a recent webinar and presentation. We’re going to explore the phases of the employee life cycle: Attraction, Recruitment, Onboarding, Development, and Retention. I’ll share some accessibility and inclusion best practices in each of these areas, and also include a related benefit of disability inclusion.
In HR, “development” refers to training employees, providing coaching and feedback, and preparing them for future roles in the organization. What does that look like for people with disabilities?
Training and Developing Employees with Disabilities
Development Best Practices
- Create accessible training materials in multiple formats (How? I wrote a book on that!)
- Provide training on disability etiquette, reducing bias and ableism, and diversity & inclusion
- Offer a work trial or special project to assess readiness for a new role
- Regular check-in with employees to discuss training and growth opportunities
- Provide reference guides and resources in accessible formats
Development Business Benefit
Financial Gain: There’s a strong business case for disability inclusion. Companies that prioritize it often see higher revenue, net income, and profit margins. Government incentives like tax credits can further enhance the financial benefits.
How Do I Do This?
I’d love for you to get in touch to chat about how I may be able to help you implement these best practices!
Sources and Further Reading
In Summary
"Development" in a job means training and helping employees learn new skills. For people with disabilities, this means making sure everyone can access all resources. Companies that do this often make more money and can even get special perks.