1 Diversity INCLUDES Disability John G. Miers

2 Diversity: What is it? There are two dimensions to diversity: Primary: Those factors which cannot be changed – age, race, ethnicity, gender, etc. Secondary: Those factors which can be changed – education, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, religious beliefs, parental status, etc.

3 Diversity: Managing it Managing Diversity is the process of creating and maintaining an environment that enables all participants to contribute to their full potential in pursuit of organizational objectives.

4 Uniformity Sometimes it can be good: (Thank you, Herbert Hoover) Examples:  Cinder blocks  Bricks  Pipes  2 by 4’s But….. Diversity adds SPICE to our existence

5 Diversity Diversity is Inclusive No one is left out

6 Diversity includes Disability Disabilities can be primary or secondary, too They may even be both Disabilities can be visible or invisible; hidden or obvious

7 Disability is Common: 54 million Americans – 1 in 5 – reported that they had some kind of disability 26 million Americans – 1 in 10 – reported that they had a severe disability The likelihood of having a disability increases with age

8 Disability is Diagonal: It can happen:  To anyone  At any time  In any manner  Known or unknown

9 There are 3 Types of Barriers to Inclusion: Structural/Architectural Communicative Attitudinal  This is the least expensive barrier, but the hardest to deal with

10 Disability is Unique: Disability is the only minority group that is constantly accepting new members!

11 The Value of Diversity A diverse workforce reflects the strength and breadth of the country Each person has different priorities A diverse workforce will reflect all of these priorities

12 The Value of Diversity Schooling, activities, education, occupations, and research interests will often reflect the personal priorities and experiences of the individual Can you think of a situation where this is the case for you? For your family members?

13 Diversity in Research A person’s research interests often reflect their personal interests:  Native Americans >> Diabetes  African Americans >> Sickle Cell  Parents >> Child Health  Elderly persons >> Alzheimer’s Disease  Deaf & Hard of Hearing >> Communications The maximum diversity will lead to the most different sets of interests being studied

14 What This Means Having a diverse workforce is critically important Disability must be fully represented

15 Next Steps Employment and training must be open to all Relevant research must be undertaken Extra steps must be taken: (Affirmative action is necessary)

16 vers sabil ITYDI