Access & Actions: Get Ready for Disability Pride Month (26th June 2024)
Welcome to Access & Actions, the 5-minute read and one-stop shop to make the action-taking easier.
This month in Access & we talked about accessible travel and July’s Disability Pride Month, with expert insights from Kelly Gordon, CEO and Co-founder of With Not For, a creative agency for disabled talent.
Access & Actions is designed so that you can dip in and out over time, with real-life case studies to inspire and actionable suggestions to implement.
Got A Minute?
Something quick.
Disability Pride Month is on the horizon. If you’re an employer who has no idea how to mark this month (without being performative), partly because you’re still learning what it is (we all have to start somewhere), start with this brilliant video by Wheels Not Heels to learn how, where and why Disability Pride began and its purpose, importance and struggles.
Only from a place of understanding and awareness, can you start taking action and pushing your organisation forward with inclusivity as a key driving force.
3 Things For Coffee Break Musings
For the small pockets of time in between the bustle.
Grab a cuppa and read the Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines by the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Even if you don’t work in this industry, a lot of the guidance you’ll find is also applicable to any workplace, and potentially incredibly helpful for inclusivity-building, if the right actions are followed through.
For example, it talks about developing an inclusive and accessible system. Instead of scrambling to fix accessibility issues only when they arise (like constantly putting out accessibility fires), a more proactive approach involves developing a comprehensive and inclusive eco-system.
This would anticipate and address accessibility needs from the very beginning.
How good does that sound? Imagine the time and money you could save for your business if you got this right...
An inclusive system would incorporate accessibility into everything from physical space design (ramps, wider doorways) to communication protocols (closed captioning for meetings, alternative document formats). It would also involve training for employees on recognising and addressing accessibility concerns, to build an understanding and supportive work environment.
This kind of systematised approach ensures accessibility is not an afterthought, but an ingrained part of your workplace culture. It allows everyone to thrive and contribute to their full potential.
Get Disability Pride ready with this detailed guide by Senior Executive.
It has everything from podcasts, books, TED Talks and documentaries to learn from, to employee considerations and how companies have celebrated to give you some ideas.
Get Disability Pride ready with this detailed guide by Senior Executive.
It has everything from podcasts, books, TED Talks and documentaries to learn from, to employee considerations and how companies have celebrated to give you some ideas.
Decide on at least one action you will implement this Disability Pride Month to make your workplace more accessible, inclusive and welcoming to all.
An inclusive workplace is built over time with consistent actions. Small changes build up! Here are 3 ideas to get you started:
Plan and post about what you’re learning or doing on your LinkedIn or other social media platforms. This shows that as an individual you care about inclusivity whilst also representing your company, making it feel safer for both current and future employees to talk about their experiences or seek support.
Identify "Accessibility Champions" within different departments. These champions can be points of contact for colleagues with accessibility concerns, can help raise awareness within their teams and advocate for accessibility improvements.
Hire an access and inclusion expert to speak or host a Lunch & Learn. Every company is individual, which means individual areas to improve and tailored support to give clarity and confidence that you’re on the right track. Check out the services I offer to see how I can support you.
Thank you for your commitment to access and inclusion.
Have a colleague or a friend who could use some Access & magic? Feel free to forward it on…
See you back here for Disability Pride Month,
Rachael x
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