Essential Ways To Help Disabled Employees Thrive

Worldwide, over a billion people live with some level of disability. That means that not including people with disabilities during your on-boarding process could significantly shrink your potential hiring pool. It remains vital to include the disabled among your top hiring candidates. 

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Including people with disabilities in your company’s staffing can have many benefits. Companies with a diverse employee pool find that they have increased productivity, boosted brand appeal, and a more solid company culture. There is no reason to exclude highly skilled workers based on the fact that they live with a disability.

While there are some people who need benefits like the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), most others living with a disability are ready and willing to become productive members of a company team. Let’s take a closer look at a few ways that you can help your disabled employees thrive. 

Unconscious Bias Training

The most challenging barrier for most companies is overcoming the bias barriers when hiring persons with disabilities. There are many unfair myths surrounding the abilities of the disabled to perform effectively in business. The first step to becoming a more inclusive employer is to train your management and staff to avoid unconscious bias. 

Managers may be concerned about the effect on productivity, or saying something that may be offensive. The key is to teach empathetic communication skills to your management staff. Encourage them to have open conversations about the needs of each employee and how to anticipate problems before they arise. 

Your employees may not be able to envision the added difficulties that people with disabilities face in the workplace. Training your staff to have a better understanding of the needs of their disabled coworkers can have a dramatic effect on company culture. 

Recruitment Accessibility

Your journey toward a truly accessible workplace starts with the on-boarding process. Simply adding a ramp to your entrance and handrails in your bathrooms is no longer a sufficient effort for your disabled employees. The process needs to start right from the beginning. 

Your application and interview process must be accessible to people of all needs. This may include adding copies of your application in Braille or large print. You may also offer online video conferencing interviews for people with mobility issues who prefer to stay at home. You should also ensure that your job descriptions are detailed enough to allow persons with disabilities to determine their own level of qualification. 

Modified Working Environment

Business owners need to consider that not all disabilities are physical. With that in mind, making concessions for those suffering from hearing or sight issues, or psychological challenges like autism or ADHD should be as crucial as other accessibility issues. For example, subtle decor and natural lighting can be more calming for many people with disabilities. You should also invest in accessibility tools like voice recognition technology, magnifying screen readers, and hearing loops. 

The workplace should be an environment that reflects the real world. If you want to integrate your company to include talented people with disabilities, it needs to start with education and compassion. Follow these tips to help you make your employees with disabilities thrive.