1. Business Strategies that Work: Employing People with Disabilities
ODEP-NILG Alliance
Action Call Series
June 27, 2012
Business Strategies that Work:
Employing People with Disabilities

2. Alliance and Related Activities Importance of ILG Feedback
ODEP-NILG Alliance
Action Call Series
June 27, 2012
Introductions
Overview of ODEP-NILG
Alliance and Related Activities
Importance of ILG Feedback
and Today’s Dialogue

3. BUSINESS STRATEGIES THAT WORK
New resource from ODEP for employers that –
Identifies promising employment strategies and practices for recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing qualified individuals with disabilities
Reflects input and ideas from successful employers of all sizes
Includes proactive, dynamic strategies that companies can refine and adopt to create a vibrant, diverse workforce

4. 7 ACTION AREAS Lead the Way: Inclusive Business Culture
TODAY
Lead the Way: Inclusive Business Culture
Build the Pipeline: Outreach and Recruitment
Communicate: Company Policies and Practices
Hire the Best: Personnel Processes
Ensure Productivity: Reasonable Accommodations
Be Tech Savvy: Accessible Technology
Grow Success: Accountability and Continuous Improvement

5. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
KEY INGREDIENTS
Leadership and commitment at the highest levels
Understanding by mid-level managers and supervisors of roles and responsibilities
Communication to employees at all levels

6. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY – Make Policies Visible
Develop and communicate policy statements
and other visible examples of the company’s
commitment to hiring, promoting and
retaining employees with disabilities

7. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
Example
COMPANY POLICY STATEMENT
Business is becoming increasingly global. As we continue to
expand, our differences – from our culture and work habits,
communication style, and personal preferences – are becoming
even more essential to our business strategy. We are working
hard to create an environment in which all employees, including
those with disabilities, are valued and respected.

8. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
Example
Include people with disabilities in media images used on company website, brochures, and recruitment materials

9. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY – Create and Support
Leadership Teams
Establish an enterprise-wide team of
executives, managers, and employees with
disabilities to advance employment goals and
function as a disability-focused employee
resource group, affinity group, or business
group

10. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
Examples
See ODEP’s Toolkit for Establishing and Maintaining
Successful Employee Resource Groups

11. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY – Share the Business Case
Make the business case for employing people
with disabilities and publicize it through
multiple communication and media strategies

12. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
Example
Making the business case includes framing the issue in communications with managers, employees, and vendors/suppliers in terms of –
 Return on investment
 Direct and indirect benefits to the company and all its
employees
 Employing people with disabilities recognizes changing
demographics of workforce
 Enhances retention and return-to-work of employees,
which has significant cost savings

13. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
Example
AN INCLUSIVE CORPORATE CULTURE
MEANS INCREASED PROFIT$ AND PRODUCTIVITY
INCREASE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Meeting affirmative action and nondiscrimination requirements
REFLECT RAPIDLY EXPANDING CUSTOMER BASE
Tapping into the needs of the third largest market segment in the U.S.
ENSURE A DIVERSE, SKILLED WORKFORCE
Leveraging new talent and retaining skilled employees

14. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY – Include Disability in
Diversity Initiatives
Incorporate disability as a component of
company diversity efforts

15. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
Example
DIVERSITY POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES
Use the words “disability” and “people with disabilities in statements
defining the company’s diversity policies
Invite disability organizations to the company’s diversity events
Recognize that people with disabilities are part of the company’s other
diverse communities (including racial and ethnic minority
populations, veterans, and the LGBT community

16. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY – Try Useful ODEP Resources!
Campaign for Disability Employment
Nationwide campaign to help implement disability employment awareness
Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN)
Free consultation and technical assistance for employers seeking to recruit and hire qualified individuals with disabilities, access to the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) and a business case
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Annual outreach effort that raises awareness about disability employment
issues and celebrates contributions of America’s workers with disabilities

17. LEAD THE WAY: Inclusive Corporate Culture
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY – Try Useful ODEP Resources!
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
Free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities
Return-to-Work Toolkit
Information about the return-to-work process and resources to assist in getting employees back on the job quickly and smoothly after illness or injury

18. Additional Questions/Comments
ODEP-NILG Alliance
Action Call Series
June 27, 2012
Additional Questions/Comments
BUILD THE PIPELINE:
OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT
NEXT CALL

19. Thanks for joining us today!