The Foundation for a Culture of Access

Disability at Work: Creating a Workplace Culture of ACCESS

February 16-17, 2012

Brought to you by the following Mission Partners and Sponsors:

The Foundation for a The Foundation for a Culture of AccessCulture of Access

Presented by:

Louis Orslene, Co-Director Job Accommodation Network

Julie Ballinger, Disability Rights & Issues Consultant Southwest ADA Center Regional Affiliate

StarReach Enterprises

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On January 1, 2011, the first of the 83 million-strong wave

of “boomers” began to reach retirement age and every

day approximately 10,000 more employees reach this

milestone.*

With the Great Recession and retirement shortfalls,

many other Baby Boomer employees will need to age

in place.**

Workplace flexibility will be essential to retain the knowledge and skills of these older workers.

*Pew Research Center http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=1150

**CNN Money, “43 percent have less than $10k for retirement” By Chavon Sutton, staff reporter, March 9, 2010: 8:21 AM ET http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/09/pf/retirement_confidence/index.htm)

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What is happening with our Youth with Disabilities?

What do they have to do with

employment?

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It is a New World of Disability Pride!

Let’s talk about the youth-lead National Youth Leadership Network (www.nyln.org)

Build power among people with disabilities between the ages of 16- 28 years old. Support young people in their role as the next generation of leadership in the Disability Rights Movement. Promote youth leadership development, values inclusion, interdependent support systems, and disability pride Connect youth leaders with opportunities to serve and be active members of their communities

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The NYLN offers what they call “Popular Education” which is a teaching philosophy that has grown out of social change movements where people needed to get others to think critically about what was unfair about the way their community was being treated.

It is fueled by people power which believes people are the experts of their experience. Popular educators facilitate a space where youth are thinking about things and teaching themselves.

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A few of NYLN’s Popular Workshops include

•Tiny Tim and Jerry’s Kid Walked Into a Bar…: Navigating the Mainstream Disability

Story

•Getting at the Roots: Understanding the Way Ableism Impacts People with Disabilities

•Get Free: Self Determination and Me

•The Revolution Will Be Tweeted and Livestreamed: Using Independent Media to Speak

Truth to Power

•College Bound: Preparing for Education After High School

•The Cripple and the Blind Man: Disabled People of Color Organizing For Themselves

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Building the Business Case

More than 50 million Americans - 18% of our population - have disabilities

In the next 5 years, there will be about 10 million more jobs than people to fill them (Cornell University).

Many Baby Boomer employees will need to age in place

Empowered Youth with Disabilities are entering into the workforce

Broadening of the ADA with the 2008 Amendments Act

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What is the strategic advantage of including disability in the diversity efforts?

In Ernst & Young's latest survey on globalization, James Turley, E&Y CEO writes:

“we found that the majority of respondents believe diversity of teams and experience improves both the financial performance and reputation of their organizations.James S. Turley, CEO, Ernst & Young

http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/01/23/ey-ceo-on-what-makes-global-leaders-successful/

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“…87% of survey participants specifically agreed that they would prefer to give their business to companies that hire individuals with disabilities.”

A national survey of consumers attitudes towards companies that hire

people with disabilities by Neil Romano and Gary Siperstein (2006)

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What is the strategic advantage of including disability in the

diversity efforts?

Employer Reported Benefits of Accommodation89% - retaining a valued employee71% - increase in the employee’s productivity60% - elimination of costs of training a new employee53% - increase in the employee’s attendance43% - increase in diversity of the company39% - saving in worker’s compensation/other

insurance costs10% - promotion of an employee with a disability

Low Cost, High Impact (2011) Resulting from the JAN Study of Employer Customers

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“83% of working-age people with disabilities have high school diplomas or a higher education.”

National Organization on Disability, Harris Poll (2010)

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What is the strategic advantage of including disability in the diversity efforts in the Federal work sector?

•Executive Order 13448 – Increasing Federal Employment of

Individuals with Disabilities

•LEAD Initiative – Expedited Process for Hiring with

Schedule A

•Broadening of the ADA with the 2008 Amendments

•An stricter enforcement of Section 501, Section 508 and

Section 503 (Federal Contractors) of the

Rehabilitation Act

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Disability and the Marketplace

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Who are those potential customers that a business must have to be successful?

Disability is the largest minority group with more than 50 million members who, many times, are an untapped consumer market with over $200 billion per year in disposable income.•In addition, approximately 71.5 million baby boomers will be over age 65 by the year 2030 and will be demanding products, services, and environments that meet their age-related physical needs.

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Can your business afford to neglect

such a large consumer market?

People with disabilities are living more independently and participating more actively in their communities.

They and their families want to patronize businesses that welcome customers with disabilities.

Given these trends, business must see each is a potential customer.

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Can your business afford to neglect

such a large consumer market?

Make your business more accessible and attractive to customers with disabilities.

Ensure that your products and services are accessible and usable across a broad spectrum of customer needs-from your website to your front door.

Understand the cost benefits of universal accessibility, including tax and hiring incentives.

Easily and successfully implement ADA policies to enhance customer relationships and employment outcomes.

Create environments that meet their age-related physical needs

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Disability Stereotypes

That Create Barriers

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A Short Attitude Measurement •Do you ever feel awkward in the presence of a person with a disability?

•Are you not aware of the problems many people with disabilities have in accessing many public buildings, businesses, and even places of employment?

•Do you ever catch yourself treating someone with a disability differently than you treat those who are not disabled?

•Do you feel like you should pay extra special attention to a person because they are disabled?

If you honestly answered “yes” to a few or most of the above questions, think about why you did. But don’t feel terribly guilty.Given our backgrounds and long time, outdated disability beliefs still held by much of our society, it is almost predictable that most of us are unsure of what to think about and how to positively interact with people with various disabilities.

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Roots of Discrimination and Stereotypes

•FEAR of people with disabilities– stems from ancient religious beliefs– social deviance– “suffer a misfortune” and join the ranks of “the disabled”

•Belief in Perfection– How does society define perfection?– Can it include pain / suffering?– Is life worth living in a body that is

not perfect?

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• Exaggerated Heroism Attributes

– Can people with disabilities live full satisfying lives?

– Why does media emphasize the amaze-ability of “overcoming of the odds”?

– What do “success” stories focus on?• the disability - NOT on architectural and attitudinal barriers

as the source of the problem

– What do these stories emphasize? • individual strength • NOT the need for societal change

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• Oppressive Charitable Attitudes

– being disabled is a miserable and sad way to live – society’s disadvantaged

– “the disabled” must be “cared” for on society’s terms of pity

• Empowering Charity

– True Charity Begins with Respect and Ends with Action that Builds Strength and Dignity

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Disability Rights MovementPeople with disabilities have chosen to define themselves

Don’t accept societal dictates of who they are according to their disability

Self and Systems Advocacy

Creating a work environment of

inclusion and cooperation

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What is Universal Design?•Creation or adaptation of environments, programs and products to be usable by everyone, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

For example, ramps and automatic door openers benefit individuals using walkers and wheelchairs, but also benefit elderly people, mothers with baby strollers, or business people with rolling briefcases.

If television displays in public areas are captioned, programming is accessible to people who are deaf and everyone else who cannot hear the audio in noisy areas.

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What is Universal Design?Universal design goes beyond minimum codes and standards to create designs that serve the broadest public (including people with disabilities) throughout their life spans.

A universal design approach to service delivery holds the promise of creating more inclusive environments, alleviating the need for some individual accommodations and creating a more collaborative, wide-reaching role for employers and businesses.

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The New Washington National Ballpark: a showcase for ADA Compliance and Accessibility…how can these be applied to your business?

1. Captioning2. Assistive Listening3. General Seating4. Site Arrival5. Ticket Windows6. Concession

Counters7. Restrooms8. Suites9. Bars and Lounges10.Entrances11.Accessible Routes

Assistive Technology

In addition, even with UD built in, some equipment may not be usable by employees or customers with disabilities and AT may be the answer

AT is any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

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Equipment Purchasing•A key consideration, especially electronic and information systems, with UD features is the concept of interoperability.

•Interoperability means that the system is compatible with other technologies and has features that support the integration of AT.

•Without interoperability, it may be very difficult and time consuming to make changes, increase accessibility, or integrate AT.

•Working to make interoperability a part of the initial purchasing phase can help eliminate these problems.

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Internet, Communications & Technology (ICT) Accessibility means equal access

To be accessible, ICT must be designed and developed to provide equal access and usability to every member of your target

The availability of accessible technology, coupled with the buying power of people with disabilities, represents an untapped revenue stream for the consumer market

This market includes people with and without disabilities, and those that may not consider themselves as having a disability – but could certainly benefit from assistive technology

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Touch Points for Accessibility

•Websites

•Online HR Systems

•Intranets

•Service Centers

•Products and Services

•Promotions – Marketing & Communications

•Procurement

•Work with JAN and the Southwest ADA Center on solutions that integrates the business and technical aspects of complying with regulations such as the Section 508 accessibility standards, ADA, and WCAG 1.0 and 2.0.

JAN

Louis Orslene, Co-Director

PO Box 6080, Morgantown, WV 26506

800-526-7234 (Voice)

877-781-9403 (TTY)

[email protected]

NMBLN

Leah Rhule, Director

505-379-6533 (Voice and Text)

[email protected]

Tessah Latson Garcia, Director

505-379-0572 (Voice and Text)

[email protected]

NMBLN c/o Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce

1309 4th Street SW

Albuquerque, NM 87102

StarReach Enterprises

Julie Ballinger, Disability Rights and Issues Consultant

5901-J Wyoming Blvd. NE, PMB 175

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109

505-797-8612 (Voice)

Use Relay (TTY)

[email protected]

DBTAC Southwest ADA Center

2323 S. Shepherd, #1000

Houston, TX 77019 www.southwestADA.org 1-800-949-4ADA

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Documents

The Foundation for a Culture of Access