People with disabilities represent a significant and largely underutilized resource for so many businesses. This course will give supervisors, managers, and human resources consultants the tools and tips they need to create a diverse workplace and leverage the skills and knowledge that people with disabilities have to offer.

During this course, participants will learn to:

• prepare to welcome people with disabilities into their workplace;
• interact with people with disabilities;
• identify and overcome barriers in the workplace;
• use respectful, appropriate, acceptable language in any circumstance;
• understand what their company can do during hiring and interviewing; and understand what job accommodation is and how it applies in their workplace.

Course Topics:

Session One: Course Overview

Session Two: Defining Terms

• What are Disabilities?
• About Stereotypes
• Some Common Phrases and the Stereotypes Behind Them

Session Three: Misconceptions and Realities

Session Four: A Business Case

• Getting Into It
• Summary

Session Five: Dissecting Labels

• Giving Your Words Some Thought
• Being Practical
• Mingle with Me

Session Six: Accessibility

• Physical Access
• Barriers
• Case Studies

Session Seven: The Cornerstones of Diversity

• About the Cornerstones
• Knowledge
• Understanding
• Acceptance
• Behavior

Session Eight: Pre-Assignment Review

Session Nine: Encouraging Diversity by Hiring

• What Can We Ask?
• What Can the Candidate Expect?

Session Ten: Using the STOP Technique

• The Four Steps
• Making Connections

Session Eleven: Communication Essentials for Disability Awareness

• Ground Rules to Get Started
• Respecting Confidentiality
• Preparing Documentation

Session Twelve: Communication Styles

• Dichotomies in Theory
• Dichotomies in Action

Session Thirteen: Critical Conversations

• Introductory Elements
• Getting the Conversation Started
• Taking it One Step Further

Session Fourteen: How Do We Make It Happen?

• How Far Do You Go In Accommodation?
• Value of Job Shadows
• Recommended Reading List
• Personal Action Plan