Staff Training: A Key Part of Fostering an Accessible Workplace
Many businesses, both large and small, capitalize on National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October to train their staff on various aspects of disability inclusion. This year is no different, and with a theme of “Increasing Access and Opportunity,” it is a remarkably appropriate time to educate colleagues on the importance of digital accessibility. This strategy can ensure a level playing field for workers and job seekers with disabilities.
Staff training on accessible technology is a cornerstone of disability-inclusive workplaces. It ensures that colleagues across the organization have a shared understanding of why accessibility matters and the practical knowledge necessary to implement accessibility best practices. Such training goes hand-in-hand with disability awareness training and should involve people at all levels of an organization.
To help employers find accessibility training guidance, the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) offers a Staff Training Resources website. This website contains valuable links to accessibility education and online training on the following subjects:
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Disability basics, typical barriers people with disabilities encounter in the workplace, and common solutions to these barriers.
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Examples of accessibility solutions that can benefit all users, not just users with disabilities.
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The advantages of an inclusive workplace and your organization’s overall commitment to diversity.
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The importance of preventing inaccessibility by building, buying, and implementing accessible technology.
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How to create accessible documents, emails, social media posts, websites, and more.
Most of the on-demand, ready-to-play resources have particular relevance in today’s widespread telework and remote-learning environment. What’s more, the resources are categorized by job role, so you can easily find training tailored for company leadership, human resources staff, chief information officers, procurement staff, IT experts, web developers and designers, communications staff, and legal counsel.
Accessibility is an ongoing team effort, so whether you provide this type of training during NDEAM or other times of the year, call on ODEP and PEAT to aid you in your efforts to increase access and opportunity for workers with disabilities.
Observed every October, NDEAM is a nationwide campaign that celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. To learn more, visit dol.gov/NDEAM.