DOL, ASA website brings best practices to employ workers with disabilities

Dive Brief:

The American Staffing Association partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy to launch a new website aiming to help employers be more inclusive of workers with disabilities. The organizations announced the effort Feb. 15.
The site includes resources that explain best practices for recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing talent with disabilities. Resources also touch on management practices and accessibility.
The website points employers to a number of organizations providing similar assistance. Its resource page highlights organizations such as: The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion; The Job Accommodation Network; The Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology; The National Organization on Disability; and Disability:IN.

Dive Insight:

The website's launch marks the latest joint effort from ASA and ODEP. In May 2020, the organizations signed an alliance to "advance the employment of people with disabilities" and agreed to equip employers with staffing, recruiting and workforce solutions.

The organizations placed a particular emphasis on education. "Education is the first step to developing inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities," ASA President and CEO Richard Wahlquist said, commenting on the organizations' newest initiative.

Other advocates of job seekers and workers with disabilities push education, as well. In a September 2020 opinion for HR Dive, one self-identified disabled advocate encouraged employers to reach out to employees with disabilities and learn about their experiences, especially in light of the pandemic.

Outside of education, advocates of workers with disabilities often push accessibility and inclusion. The accessibility element is not only common sense — it's a large part of employers' obligation under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The pandemic caused many employers to examine their digital accessibility measures, improving access for job seekers especially.

Employers are also looking to improve inclusion measures; A September 2021 audit from B2B research firm Forrester revealed that even DEI-committed companies were botching disability inclusion by skimping on language that was inclusive to workers with disabilities.