Catering to workers with disabilities isn’t just an ethically laudable thing to do – it also makes good business sense. When disabled workers are able to function on the same level as their able-bodied counterparts, they become more productive – and when word spreads of your efforts, your business will have an easier time recruiting from a wider pool of talent.
But exactly how can we make a workplace more approachable for differently-abled workers? There are several simple steps, many of which can be implemented very cheaply.
Look for Unconscious Bias in your Recruitment
The people doing your recruiting might not be biased, consciously or otherwise, against disabled people. But that doesn’t mean the process itself can’t be systemically biased in this direction. For example, Microsoft recently determined that their hiring process was overly hard on autistic people – particularly the initial phase of phone-screening, which demanded a level of socialisation that simply didn’t feature in the data-scientist positions being advertised. The solution was to simply cut that phase of the interview process for autistic people.
Removing Physical Barriers
Among the most visible changes to a workplace might be the physical ones. Wheelchair ramps and elevators might spring to mind easily, but other, more subtle improvements, like handrails, assistive listening devices and braille-equipped computer keyboards can help, too.
Train the rest of the Workforce
When it comes to including disabled employees, cultural changes to the rest of the workforce are going to be among the most powerful steps you can take. This might mean sensitivity and etiquette classes for everyone, which will help to eliminate any misconceptions. Of course, if implemented in the wrong way, this might be a source of irritation or resentment – so make sure such classes are kept short, sweet and practical.
You might find that having a workforce that’s conscious of the challenge will reap practical dividends, as it will be better positioned to identify problems and suggest solutions, thereby improving things for disabled workers.
Company Car
You might already have decided to hand out perks in order to draw talent to your organisation. By tailoring some of these perks to disabled candidates, you’ll be able to make them feel that much more welcome – and you’ll ensure that they can actually reach your workplace. Modified wheelchair-friendly vehicles, available from Allied Mobility, allow wheelchair users to travel in their own vehicle.
