Disability Inclusion Basics
Achieving an accessible workplace means establishing an accessibility mindset. The following PEAT resources explore how you can weave accessibility and inclusion into your organizational culture:
Get Started: Why Accessible Technology Matters
General introduction to the different ways that people with disabilities use technology, and how inaccessibility can create barriers to recruitment and retention.
Communicating Your Commitment to Accessibility
Learn ways to communicate your commitment to accessible technology to job seekers, new hires, existing employees, and the general public.
Webinar: Fostering a Culture of Inclusion and Accessibility in the Workplace
Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer of Microsoft, shares valuable guidance on creating a workplace culture focused on access and inclusion.
Webinar: Strategies to Drive Awareness and Engagement at a Large Enterprise
Senior Manager of Accessibility Mark Penicook discusses Capital One’s efforts to integrate accessibility awareness across their internal brand, and to establish enterprise-wide accessibility standards and best practices.
Video: Accessibility Policy & Corporate Culture
Bobby Silverstein discusses how companies can make accessible technology part of the corporate culture.
Explore PEAT’s ongoing Spotlight Profile series to find a wealth of recommendations and best practices from top industry and thought leaders.
Disability Awareness Training
Accessibility awareness goes hand in hand with general inclusion training. A number of organizations offer free trainings and/or educational materials on topics such as general disability awareness, workplace inclusion, disability etiquette, communication, and why accessible technology matters. Professional development opportunities related to accessibility, either in-house or externally, are also a great way to train staff on these topics.
Introduction to Inclusive Talent Acquisition
Perkins School for the Blind and Harvard Extension School partnered to create this free online course specifically for hiring managers and recruiters. The curriculum distills valuable lessons from leaders in inclusion, human resources professionals, and people with disabilities into four quick and engaging sessions.
Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
EARN provides free resources on a range of disability inclusion topics to help employers tap the benefits of disability diversity, including a primer on disability inclusion.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN offers free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Resources range from free one-on-one consultations to online professional development resources.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)
This annual social media event (hashtag #GAAD) offers a great way to find resources and events to get audiences talking, thinking, and learning about digital access/inclusion and people with different disabilities. Participating is also a great way to demonstrate your company commitment to accessibility.
Civil rights lawyer Lainey Feingold provides an excellent set of resources on creating an accessibility culture, including a well-maintained list of accessibility statements by leading companies.
Planning Accessible Meetings and Events: A Toolkit
A robust toolkit from the American Bar Association for planning accessible meetings and events.
Modules on disability etiquette, accommodation solutions, and more from the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP).
Effective Interaction—Communicating with and About People with Disabilities in the Workplace
A fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Recommended Videos
Introduction to Web Accessibility and W3C Standards
A video overview of the Why, What, and How of web accessibility
Chris Downey: Design with the Blind in Mind
Personal story of an architect who became blind; benefits of including and designing for people who are blind and others with disabilities. Producer: TedCity2.0
How the Blind Use Technology to See the World
In this TED talk, computer programmer Austin Seraphin, blind since birth, engagingly shares how technology changed his universe, and what it means to make apps, gadgets and even street art accessible to all.
An engaging introduction to technology accessibility. Producer: UX Mastery
Make Technology Work for Everyone: Introducing Digital Accessibility
A quick overview of the how’s and why’s of digital accessibility. Producer: Fix the Web
This Apple commercial elegantly demonstrates how people with disabilities use the accessibility features in their products, at work and in life. Producer: Apple
The Rights of People with Cognitive Disabilities to Technology and Information Access
An introduction to technology access for people with cognitive disabilities. Producer: Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities
Disability Sensitivity Training
Lighthearted and effective basic sensitivity training. Producer: Washington DC Government
Basic disability awareness for customer service employees. Producer: Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
