1. Release My Voice The Untapped Talent Pool — Seeing DisABILITY
Margaret Spence, CEO C. Douglas & Associates, Inc.

2. I would ask you to be non-judgmental
Release My Voice
“When you see me … what do you see?”
Margaret Spence
I would ask you to be non-judgmental

3. Disability and the US Workforce
People with disabilities are the largest minority population in the US.
20% of the US population has a disability
79% unemployment rate for people with disabilities

4. “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction…”
John F. Kennedy
I would ask you to have the courage to embrace and become a champion for people with disabilities

5. Disability Employment Challenges
33 million people of working age with disabilities – only 21% are currently employed
20 million working age people with disabilities who want to work, who are able to work, but they remain unemployed
Untapped Talent Pool
4 in 10 companies report difficulties identifying qualified candidates with disabilities
2 out of 3 cite lack of finding candidates as a barrier to hiring
Are we making a valiant effort?
Most companies report challenges finding and retaining employees with disabilities
Mass confusion about what can be done to solve this problem
Why are we confused?

6. Hiring Benchmarks
National Organization of Disability – Surveyed 47% of Fortune 500 Corporations and 78% of Federal Contractors on:
Climate & Culture
Tracking & Measurement
Results and Opportunities
Employment Cycle
75% of companies in their database have or track hiring initiatives
3% average number of disabled workers employed
16% meet the federal guidelines of having at least 7% employment of disabled workers

7. Myths About Hiring Individuals with a Disability
We question their ability as a qualified candidate
We assume that reasonable accommodations are expensive
According to the Job Accommodation Network, most accommodations cost under $500
We question their ability to perform like other employees
Feel that they could be a disruption to normal operations — customers may not want to interact with someone with a disability or employees may not want to work with someone who has a disability
Corporate Social Responsibility to Hire and Retain Individuals with Disabilities

8. How do you turn the invisible into the visible?
“Do the difficult things while they are easy, and do the great things while they are small.”
Lao Tzu
How do you turn the invisible into the visible?

9. SWOT Analysis

10. SWOT Analysis
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES

11. SWOT Analysis
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS

12. Eliminate the Weakness and Threats
Results
Actions
Opportunities
Strength

13. Can you allow me to release my voice?
“Employers have recognized for some time that it’s smart business to have a diverse workforce — one in which many views are represented and everyone’s talents are valued.
Well, disability is a part of diversity.”
Thomas Perez – Secretary of Labor
Can you allow me to release my voice?

14. Strength Opportunities Action Results
What are your organization’s strengths?
Strength
Where are the opportunities to add inclusion to your workforce?
Opportunities
What actions are you taking to increase inclusion?
Action
How will you measure your results?
Results

15. Push-and-Pull Model PUSH PULL NON-DIRECTIVE Listening to understand
Solving someone’s problem for them
NON-DIRECTIVE
Reflecting
Listening to understand
Paraphrasing
Summarizing
Asking questions that raise awareness
Giving feedback
Offering guidance
Making suggestions
Provide Instruction
Giving advice
PULL
Helping someone solve their own problem
DIRECTIVE
(Myles Downey – “Effective Coaching – 2003 – Thomson Texere, New York)

16. You Can Embrace Ability And Equality
Releasing My Voice Means?
A job that makes good use of skills and abilities
Having opportunity to receive additional training and learning on the job
Feeling communicated to and from management
Getting involved in how decisions are made about their future
Think differently — See my ability
Change what you think? Ask me what I want!
Aim higher — Build inclusion as a path to business success
Dedicate yourself to eliminating inequality
You Can Embrace Ability And Equality

17. Growth means you see what’s possible
Milestones
Actions
Commitment
What WILL you do?
Will W
Situation
Vision
Objective
What do you want?
Goal G
GROW
What’s possible?
What could you do?
Options O
Evidence
Awareness
Understanding
What is happening now?
Reality R

18. “The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers.”
Deepak Chopra
The Journey of a Million Miles – Depends on you to take the first step.

19. Let’s Stay In Touch @MargaretSpence @SAGELeadershipCoach
Fb.me/SAGELeadershipCoach
Resource: Job Accommodation Network AskJAN.org