PEAT’s Impact

Making strides toward a more accessible future of work

Portrait of Motivated Woman with Disability Using Prosthetic Arm to Work on Computer

We Build & Support Communities

Only 38.8% of adult job seekers with disabilities are in the labor force, compared to 76.9% of those without disabilities. PEAT is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) that strives to help close this gap.

Our vision is to create a future where all technologies are accessible by design so that everyone can succeed in their careers. To make our vision a reality, PEAT develops and influences the policies and practices that help increase the number and quality of job opportunities for people with disabilities. Here is a snapshot of our impact* since the beginning of 2020.

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40+ Presentations

Every time we present, our goal is to inspire attendees to think of accessibility as more than just a checkbox. By presenting at national and international conferences like CSUN, Gatherverse Summit and axe-con, we spread the word about how inclusion is critical to the workplace of the future.

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150+ Organizational and Individual Collaborators & Connections

Building a network of dedicated champions for change is one of our passions. Our network includes members from education and research institutions, employers, technology companies, government organizations, professional associations, advocacy organizations, standards setting organizations, and technical assistance organizations as well as independent advocates and experts. We appreciate the chance to learn from and collaborate with thought leaders from organizations that value accessibility and inclusion as much as we do.

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200+ Think Tank Participants

Uniting the accessibility community ensures we can all contribute to an inclusive future. We bring thought leaders from around the country together to discuss technology topics that impact the future of digital accessibility. Our think tanks have included participants from Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Google, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft, Oracle, Verizon and many more!

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800+ Initiative Participants

PEAT helps shape early-stage ideas into initiatives that make an impact. XR Access, Start Access and Teach Access are critical initiatives that PEAT helped establish and cultivate. These initiatives grow in participation and influence each year, leading to meaningful change.

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2,600+ Talk Attendees

Each person we interact with holds the potential to unlock change in their workplace. PEAT presentations attract large audiences from a wide range of backgrounds. We present to experts, people entirely new to the field of accessibility and just about everyone in between.

Recent Awards & Honors

MarCom Awards Gold Winner

Service to the Citizen Champions of Change Logo

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Disruptive Tech Awards 2022 Winner

MUSE Creative Awards Silver Winner

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We Create and Share Inclusive Resources & Tools

arrow pointing out of a box300+ Shares of PEAT Resources and Policy Materials since July 2021

Thanks to the support of our engaged network, our resources reach a global audience. PEAT materials have been proactively shared more than 300 times by over 200 organizations and individuals since July 2021.

Subscribe button4,800+ Social Subscribers & Followers

We know that social media and newsletters are direct ways to keep our community informed. Through these channels, we distribute PEAT resources, give insight into inclusion issues and share exciting things happening in the accessible technology community.

eye icon with a computer screen in the background75,000+ Podcast Downloads & Pageviews in 2021

PEAT believes in amplifying the voices of thought leaders with lived experience. The Future of Work podcast is produced in collaboration with Workology, a leading HR and workplace resource, and draws hundreds of listeners each month. In 2021 alone, episodes of the Future of Work podcast had over 75,000 pageviews and downloads.

person icon with plus symbol94,000+ Website Users

PEAT takes pride in creating reliable, clear resources that are free to everyone. We provide expert perspectives to our site visitors, constantly releasing new resources and updating past publications. In 2022, our website was recognized with a Gold dotComm Awardtwo Silver MUSE Creative Awards and a Gold MarCom Award.

Policy Impacts

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We Help Build the Accessible Workplace of the Future

The PEAT team has a unique vantage point that allows us to anticipate future trends and technologies that will impact the public we serve. We use this knowledge to build resources that help employers and employees realize a more inclusive future of work.

In recognition of our impact, the PEAT team and ODEP leadership have won several recent awards, including a 2020 Zero Project Award. In 2021, Nathan Cunningham, Senior Policy Advisor for the Department of Labor’s ODEP, was honored with a Government Rising Star Award for his work guiding PEAT.

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How We Do It

At PEAT, we know that accessible technology can open the door to employment opportunities for people with disabilities. We foster collaborations and develop resources that help make existing and emerging technologies accessible.

  • We guide employers through the process of procuring and implementing accessible technologies in remote, hybrid and physical workplaces.

  • We help technology companies understand why inclusion is important and how to build accessibility into their products.

  • We create connections through presentations, think tanks, events and key meetings that lead to a strong network of accessibility and inclusion changemakers.

  • We participate in essential stakeholder conversations to shape the future of work.

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*Please note that the data above is aggregated from January 1, 2020, until April 4, 2022, unless otherwise indicated, and the total numbers are approximate.