At Perkins, we believe we can build a world where people with disabilities can not only participate, but make life-changing contributions. In fact, we witness it every day. From a professional pianist who graduated from our Deafblind School, to a recent graduate and aspiring motivational speaker looking to teach kids about suicide prevention, we witness the power of inclusion every day among our students and alumni.
While we know many people with disabilities can do anything, many non-disabled people aren’t aware of the barriers and stereotypes that prevent people with disabilities from participating in their communities.
Together, we have the power to change that. Change is incremental and takes time, but when we work together, start small, and think big, we can create opportunities for millions of people with disabilities. Here are some of the small but meaningful ways you can foster disability inclusion in the workplace, the classroom and at home.
The data and research proving the benefits of inclusion at work is overwhelming. Not only does it boost business outcomes, productivity and innovation, it’s also the right thing to do. The U.S. population is richly diverse, with approximately 61 million Americans having a disability. Yet, disability and accessibility are often left out of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives and conversations.
Disability is diversity.”
When you boil down the statistics, it comes down to 1 in 4 people with a disability, or a quarter of the population. Our newly open dialogue around issues like race, equality and mental health, has also highlighted that many disabilities are actually invisible. For too long, these topics have been taboo in the workplace and workers have been silent out of fear of retaliation or alienation. Workplace DEI initiatives have begun to change that, and organizations are beginning to believe they can reverse the course.
Creating a more inclusive workplace is no easy feat — there is work that has to be done. Here are the three most important steps to take if you believe in creating a workplace that includes and embraces people with disabilities.
When you foster disability inclusion at work, you’re showing your colleagues that they matter. You’re showing your customers, consumers or partners that everyone’s experience matters. And you’re showing that the human experience, as wonderful and hard as it can be, is just that — human.
When disability inclusion is practiced and promoted in the classroom, all students can benefit. Inclusive classrooms are welcoming and supportive of diverse needs, experiences and points of view. They also strengthen connections between students, and their ability to work together and value each other’s differences.
We’ve seen first-hand that every child can learn and successfully contribute to their community when given the right support. While that support comes from families, teachers, schools and governments, it must also come from their peers.
Our teachers know that when students are exposed to real-life experiences, assistive devices and specific accommodations, they are able to better understand true diversity. If you’re a teacher looking to foster disability inclusion for your classroom, here are three ways how to get started.
Inclusion and creating awareness of disabilities can start anywhere, but it often starts at home. Family members and guardians can play a powerful role in promoting acceptance and respect in their household. Children often look up to adults as role models.
As a parent or guardian, you have the power to help change that. We know it can be daunting to talk to your child about sensitive issues like disabilities, so here are some ideas to help you get started. Start in our resource library and talk to your child’s teacher for helpful tips. From there, you can start to implement the three quick tips below.
Fostering disability inclusion doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking — and any step you take, big or small, has the power to reverberate within our communities. When it comes down to it, it all starts with having that conversation. Join us, and help us create a more accepting and accessible world for all.
Every month, #FridayForward looks at the unique challenges in the world of disabilities and visual impairment, and the people who are working to solve them.
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Every month, #FridayForward looks at the unique challenges in the world of disabilities and visual impairment, and the people who are working to solve them. Subscribe today to learn how you can help build a more inclusive, accessible world.