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 Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Our team is incredibly grateful to you, our community, for putting accessibility first. Your efforts to make the world we live and work in more inclusive are vital.
Since GAAD 2022, we have enjoyed collaborating with and learning from many experts who focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). In this special edition of our newsletter, we highlight words from members of our community that underscore why digital equity is so important. Click on the links for advice and resources to make your workplace more inclusive. |
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- “Me being a Black woman, a young Black woman at that, I have a completely different viewpoint on life than a lot of different people, a lot of my coworkers. And I believe that my viewpoint has value." – Zariah Cameron on the Future of Work Podcast.
- “I’m very excited that sighted individuals are paying more attention to nonvisual experiences as it relates to XR [extended reality].” – Brandon Biggs at Sight Tech Global.
- “So, the reason people with disabilities are so innovative is we’re so used to being excluded that we have to find workarounds. And it’s that creativity that makes the difference.” – Meryl Evans at SXSW.
- "I leverage my lived experiences as a Gay man, a parent of children with disabilities, an ally and digital accessibility leader to help organizations improve their DEIA efforts. Digital equity at work enables all workers to pursue their passions and realize their potential.” – Bill Curtis-Davidson on the PEAT blog.
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Q: There are days, weeks, and months of celebration/awareness for disabilities – how do we keep the momentum going beyond that?
A: It can be easy to get lost in the priorities we all have at work. Celebrating or commemorating specific days is a great start, but as you indicate, we need to make authentic inclusion a daily practice. We'd suggest an internal inclusion chat with your colleagues to help you get started. It only takes a moment to share relevant links, highlight great examples of inclusion (or ones that could use work), and spark an engaging discussion. It’s a small action to take, but an active dialogue can make a big impact! |
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- Visit the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - they give free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
- Visit the Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA) - they collaborate with employers and apprenticeship intermediaries to design inclusive apprenticeship programs that meet employer talent needs and enable disabled people to gain credentials and skills to succeed in growing industries.
- Consider joining an XR Access workstream - they promote inclusive design in diverse communities, connect stakeholders, and create innovative approaches to assistive technologies.
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