Employing Abilities at Work
Submitted by Tiffani Ewing, HR Indiana SHRM Workforce Readiness Director
Employing Abilities at Work is part of SHRM’s commitment to offer education and resources to build inclusive workplaces. The goal is to provide an overview and understanding for HR professionals about managing the employment lifecycle for individuals with disabilities. People with disabilities face significant employment barriers and represent one of the largest untapped talent pools. SHRM findings show that just 13% of U.S. workplaces have disability-specific inclusion initiatives, and more than half of people managers have not participated in any disability inclusion training. The Employing Abilities @Work Certificate program was developed after research findings unearthed misunderstandings among HR professionals and managers about the capabilities of employees with disabilities and the costs associated with accommodations that might be needed.
✅ Truth: Organizations who invest in employing individuals with disabilities cite improvements to their organizational reputation and CSR as key drivers—both of which correlate with positive customer sentiment.
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM President and CEO, shared “It’s time we busted some myths about hiring people with disabilities. We’re talking about a high-quality talent pool that remains untapped and underemployed for no good reason. We must continue fighting for diverse, inclusive workplaces, because the future of the American workforce depends on sustainable employment opportunities for all.” Disability is part of the human condition and SHRM is committed to providing tools and resources to enable more effective inclusion and engagement of candidates and employees with disabilities.
