About 1 billion people have a disability, yet supporting disabled employees is often overlooked. International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021 is a great time to re-evaluate your company's plans to support disabled workers.
This article will walk through a brief history of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, common challenges for people with disabilities at work, and how HR leaders can support disabled employees.
History of International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021
In 1992, the United Nations announced that the International Day of Disabled Persons would be observed every year on December 3rd.
According to un.org: "The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life."
Companies have a huge role to play in providing disabled people opportunities to lead great careers and integrate into society.
Common Disabilities in the Workplace
So, what is considered a disability?
- Autism
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Visual impairments
- Mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Chronic pain and migraines
- Learning disabilities
- Medical disabilities like arthritis, asthma, diabetes, seizures, heart disease, etc.
Most people will suffer from some sort of disability during their lifetime. Companies that don't provide adequate support for disabled workers are missing a huge opportunity to support all of their people.
Related: 6 Reasons Why Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace is Critical
Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities
While companies are legally required to accommodate disabled employees, there are some common barriers that prevent disabled employees from having equal opportunities at work:
- The stigma around disabilities and mental health challenges as work, or not believing that a person has a disability.
- Physical barriers and lack of tools to do the job well. For instance, lack of wheelchair ramps in the workplace, or no mental health program for employees.
- Communication barriers like lack of Braille materials.
- Policy barriers, such as not having systems in place to support disabled employees.
Thankfully, you can do some simple things to overcome these barriers and better support disabled workers.
3 Ways HR Leaders Can Support Disabled Employees
Here are 3 simple things you can do to have a more disability-friendly workplace for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021.
1. Provide a mental health and wellbeing program
Mental health struggles are one of the most common forms of disability among employees. Depression alone is the leading cause of disability for people aged 15 to 44. Everyone can benefit from a mental health program. Tools like meditation, counseling, and personal training can help prevent common challenges like stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.
A mental health program that is accessible to all will be a great addition to your benefits package—and a great way to improve your company culture!
Related: Your Guide to the EAP Implementation and Search Process
2. Create a disability-friendly work environment
A great place to start creating a more disability-friendly environment is to provide tools for employees that make their jobs easier. For instance, give employees ergonomic chairs to use at their desks.
For your remote workers, offer a small budget for them to use towards their work-from-home setup. It is nearly impossible to anticipate every need your workforce will have; this is a great way to support everyone, no matter their needs.
Executives may find this extra cost hard to justify, but when you consider the cost of losing and rehiring employees, it is well worth the investment!
3. Update your company disability policy and processes
Take some time to revisit your company's disability policy. What benefits do you currently offer disabled folks? What else can you improve? Try surveying your team to see which needs you may be missing.
Make your recruitment process disability-inclusive by ensuring the entire process is accessible for deaf and blind folks, for instance.
Consider appointing at least one employee as the disability point person. This person will help educate the leadership team, managers, and individual contributors about the importance of supporting disabled workers and the company's disability policy. They can also set and measure disability awareness and accommodation goals.
By implementing some of these tips for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021, you will be well on your way to creating a community that is inclusive to disabled employees.
Disclaimer
By participating in/reading the service/website/blog/email series on this website, you acknowledge that this is a personal website/blog and is for informational purposes and should not be seen as mental health care advice. You should consult with a licensed professional before you rely on this website/blog’s information. All things written on this website should not be seen as therapy treatment and should not take the place of therapy or any other health care or mental health advice. Always seek the advice of a mental health care professional or physician. The content on this blog is not meant to and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
