1. USBLN GFG Lessons Learned for Increased Hiring of Individuals with Disabilities
Presenters:
Leslie Wilson, M.S., USBLN VP, Workplace Initiatives
Deb Dagit, USBLN GFG Disability Inclusion Consultant
June 2018

2. The US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®) is a national non-profit that helps business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace:
The USBLN® serves as the collective voice of nearly 50 Business Leadership Network affiliates across the United States, representing over 5,000 businesses.
It is the nation's leading third party certification program for disability-owned businesses, including businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
The USBLN Conference is the premier event for business and provides the best and brightest in disability inclusion with cutting-edge educational sessions, enhanced networking, exciting interactive programming plus high-profile speakers: 2018 USBLN Annual Conference

3. USBLN GFG Project Funded by:
The Poses Family Foundation May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
Going for the Gold Corporate Match

4. Team
Jill Houghton USBLN CEO Leslie Wilson, M.S. USBLN VP, Workplace Initiatives Deb Dagit GFG Disability Inclusion Consultant Emily Malsch GFG Sourcing & Community Outreach Consultant Beth Butler, J.D. GFG Disability Inclusion Consultant Becky Curran Disability Equality Index (DEI) Program Mgr.

5. and meeting federal compliance requirements.
GFG engages 20 corporations with the similar goal of increasing their inclusion of people with disabilities into their workforces
and meeting federal compliance requirements.

6. What is Going for the Gold?
1st of its kind in the nation
Three year program
20 companies
Access to USBLN Programs:
Disability Supplier Diversity Program, Rising
Leadership Academy, Affiliates,
USBLN Conference…
Best practices
Sustained success
Assess
Plan
Source

7. Return on Investment
Expert Consulting on Disability Inclusive Corporate Culture
Benchmarking: USBLN Disability Equality Index
Increased Self-Identification
Increased Sourcing Relationships
Sustainable “Gold Standard” Achievement
Media and Business Recognition

9. Lessons Learned

10. - -Peter Drucker

11. -- Lori Golden, EY Abilities Strategy Leader
Focus on Culture
“There are more companies focusing on culture, the leadership and driving inclusion throughout all aspects of the organization rather than simply going out and recruiting,”
-- Lori Golden, EY Abilities Strategy Leader

12. Commitment from the Executive Leadership Team
EXAMPLES

13. Commitment from the Executive Leadership Team
“The same is true for diversity programs…companies try to change the managers' attitudes and priorities…But such efforts are effective only if top executives lead them [emphasis added]. Otherwise HR is just a cheerleader for an initiative it can neither enforce nor measure; its leaders will end up pleading with line managers to take on yet another set of tasks, burning up more social capital in the process.“
--Peter Cappelli, Harvard Business Review
July-August 2015 Issue

14. Sustainable Cultural Change

15. Cross-Functional Teams
Example: Cross-Functional Team on Disability Inclusion
Empowered Project Manager
D&I, Compliance, AA
Accommodations Team
Digital Accessibility
Talent Acquisition
Human Resources
Communications, Training
Labor Relations
Disability ERG Reps
Passionate Employees

16. The Use of USBLN & AAPD Benchmarking Tool
DEI
5 Domains: Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices; Community Engagement & Support Services; Supplier Diversity

17. Enterprise-Wide Disability Hiring Goals
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act Goal of 7% Across Job Groups
GFG Hiring Goals – Exceeded 8,000 hires of new individuals with disabilities

18. Employee/Business Resource Groups
EXAMPLES

19. Self-Identification Campaigns vs. Emails
EXAMPLE:
Multi-Media Campaign
Percentage of employees identifying with a disability went from less than one percent to 2.8% and from a 24% response to a 44% response rate over 2 months.
Cross-Functional Team for Planning of the Campaign

20. Disability Strategists
“A strategy, even a great one,  doesn’t implement itself.”
-- Jeroen De Flander
Top 10 Strategy Execution Quotes
EXAMPLE:
Disability Strategist Position

21. Training on Disability Inclusion: Recruiters*
07/16/96
Examples *

22. Accommodations - Applicants/Employees
Companies with well- publicized, committed teams, effective accommodations policies and practices - for applicants & employees – and centralized accommodations funds are more likely to be successful in recruiting, hiring and retention.
EXAMPLES

23. Diversity Talent Advisors
EXAMPLE

24. Flexibility and Creativity in Recruiting
EXAMPLE

25. Active Outreach & Recruitment
The GFG team is assisting the companies to not just “push out” job descriptions but “pull in” sourcing organizations.
Assisting the companies to establish sustainable sourcing pipelines of candidates with disabilities, including DOBEs
Virtual Career Invitational
EXAMPLES

26. Community of Practice – The Cohort Model

27. Summary: The Baker’s Dozen
13 Significant Activities that Have the Greatest Impact on Sustainable Disability Inclusion
Visible Executive Leadership Support
Cross-Functional Implementation Teams with an
Empowered Project Manager
The Use of Benchmarking Tools
Enterprise-wide Disability Hiring Goals
Disability Specific ERGs
Self-Identification Campaigns
Disability Strategist Position
Training on Disability Inclusion
Publicized, Effective Accommodations Policy/
Practices for Applicants and Employees
Diversity Talent Advisors
Active Outreach & Recruitment
Flexibility and Creativity in Recruiting
Community of Practice

28. The USBLN GFG Program’s future is bright.
GFG’s Future
The USBLN GFG Program’s future is bright.
Companies are encouraged to join. To learn more, contact:

29. Your Questions Please Presenters:
Leslie Wilson, M.S., USBLN VP, Workplace Initiatives:
Deb Dagit, USBLN Disability Inclusion Consultant: