Building an Inclusive Workplace for People with Disabilities
Hiring people with disabilities is a unique process. Employers have to evaluate their strengths and have an open mind. Do not make conclusions about candidates with disabilities by their first impressions. People with the same disabilities does not mean they have the same characteristics. Employers should handle each person and situation individually.
Employers choose candidates from resumes and applications. This selection makes them qualify for the position, and employers need to show fairness in the interview process. People with disabilities need reasonable accommodations, such as modifications and adaptations to be successful at their jobs. Employees with disabilities will complete their tasks in a timely manner. The way employees
with disabilities complete tasks can be efficient and improve the company’s internal controls. They use creativity to achieve goals, and it benefits the company by having a different perspective. Supervisors, HR, and employees should learn how to interact with employees with disabilities.
Communicating with people with disabilities pushes their coworkers out of their comfort zones. It might be tough at first with an unfamiliar conversation, but it teaches employees to be patient to talk with people with disabilities. These conversations will shape the work environment of the company. Employees with disabilities let their coworkers know the best way to communicate with them. After a few first interactions with employees with disabilities, it feels comfortable to talk with them.
Knowledge is power, provides guidance, and productivity. Change is difficult, but we have to accept each other. Listen to employees with disabilities’ life stories, get to know them first, and we are more alike than different. Through their experiences, they are very relatable.
Employers should not let fear lower or limit their expectations of employees with disabilities. Limit expectations restrict growth. It does not matter if employees have disabilities or not because everyone should achieve their professional goals. Don’t be afraid to interact with employees with disabilities because you think you don’t have anything in common. Employees with disabilities have overcome many adversities, and they prove that they are capable of getting hired.
Project HIRED mission is to assist people with disabilities to find and sustain employment. We also need to provide awareness for employers to feel comfortable and adapt to work with employees with disabilities.
