How to Promote Disability Awareness

1. Review your existing policies and practices and revise as necessary. Ensure that your organization complies with applicable laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations.
2. Look to other organizations for information related to diversity and disability awareness. National Organization on Disability (NOD) has an objective to promote workforce development for individuals with disabilities. NOD provides guidance to organizations in developing inclusive policies and practices.

3. Require appropriate training for your staff. Ensure that your human resources office can adequately handle disability-related matters, from providing reasonable accommodations to managing intermittent leave. Guide your supervisors to refer employees who discuss their own disability to human resources and to maintain confidentiality.
4. Acknowledge disability as a component of diversity and a successful workforce. Companies have many options to do this, such as utilizing company-wide communications to share general information or hosting informational events to highlight disability and its role in a diverse workplace.
5. Provide employees with formal updates on your company policy related to disability.