Diversity and Inclusion

When employers foster a culture of diversity — or a capacity to appreciate and value individual differences — they benefit from varied perspectives on how to confront business challenges and achieve success. The term diversity refers to the infinite range of individuals' unique attributes and experiences such as ethnicity, gender, age and disability. Since disability is a natural part of diversity, businesses can benefit by taking steps to ensure people with disabilities are represented in their workforce.

The following resources provide more information about disability, diversity and inclusion:

• Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) — EARN is an ODEP-funded technical assistance center that offers information and resources to help employers recruit, hire, retain and advance disabled people; build inclusive workplace cultures; and meet diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) goals. A sample of resources includes:
  • Creating Inclusive Workplaces
  • Planning for Inclusive Hiring
  • Inclusive Branding and Messaging
  • Working Together: Ensuring People with Disabilities Feel Welcome and Included in the Workplace
  • Disability and Diversity at Work
  • Intersectionality in the Workplace
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN) — JAN is an ODEP-funded service that provides practical guidance and technical assistance on job accommodation solutions, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation. JAN’s resource A to Z: Disability Inclusion offers information to help employers integrate disability into their DEIA plans and initiatives.
• Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) — The CDE is an ODEP-funded collaborative effort among several leading disability and business organizations to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. It does this by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent disabled people bring to the workplace and implement flexible and inclusive workplace practices. Toolkits are available for each of the CDE’s public service announcements:
  • “Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?” Campaign
  • “Working Works” Campaign
  • “Who I Am” Campaign
  • “Because” Campaign
  • “I Can” Campaign
• Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) — PEAT is an ODEP-funded initiative that promotes the employment, retention and career advancement of people with disabilities through the development, adoption and promotion of accessible technology.
• Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA) — This ODEP-funded initiative was developed to foster and advance inclusive apprenticeship programs that expand access for career seekers with disabilities to good jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries. Although the PIA initiative has concluded, you can still find many of its valuable resources on this webpage.
• Inclusive Internship Programs: A How-to Guide for Employers — This ODEP guide was designed for public and private employers of all sizes to learn about the benefits and logistics of facilitating internship programs that attract young adults, including those with disabilities.
• Diverse Perspectives: People with Disabilities Fulfilling Your Business Goals — Is an ODEP webpage that provides information on the benefits of incorporating disabled people into diversity goals.
• Addressing the Needs of Youth with Disabilities and Other Intersecting Identities — This brief from the ODEP-funded Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (Cape-Youth) informs how states can implement programs and services for youth and young adults with intersecting identities.