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Tips for Attracting Differently Abled Workers to Your Business by Jillian Day

Photo Credit: Pexels.com

[Editor’s note: Jillian Day created 508Assist.org to help people all across the web make their sites accessible to individuals with disabilities. A close family member, who has a visual impairment, had trouble finding a dinner recipe online that he could read easily. This inspired her to start 508Assist.org.When she’s not chasing after her little ones, Jillian enjoys being outside, whether she’s fishing, hiking, or geocaching with her family.]

Tips for Attracting Differently Abled Workers to Your Business

by Jillian Day

If you’re a business owner or manager, you want to encourage diversity in the workplace. This includes hiring people who are differently abled. Not only does this create a more inclusive culture, but it can also benefit businesses. Research suggests that differently abled workers can help enhance teamwork, save overhead costs, and improve workplace connectivity. That said, if you want to bring these diverse workers on board, you’ll have to adapt both your hiring processes and your workplace to suit their needs. Read on to find out how you can attract differently abled workers.

Revamp your office space to accommodate differently abled persons

People with disabilities may require nontraditional workspaces, which could mean remodeling your office space. 99 Acres provides a guide to designing office spaces that are disability-friendly. This could include installing wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, widening hallways and doorways to accommodate mobility devices, and creating disability-friendly workspaces. For example, if you have a worker with vision problems, you might invest in computer screen readers that convert written text to speech, or a Braille output device, which allows blind workers to type.

Adapt your recruitment process, including posting ads on platforms like Facebook

Once you have an office that can accommodate differently abled persons, it’s time to recruit. You’ll want to rethink your recruitment process. For example, job adverts should emphasize disability inclusion and highlight benefits that apply to differently abled persons. An effective job description is also essential and should cover core responsibilities, requirements, and rewards. Keep in mind that recruiting steps like interviews may have to change as well. For example, instead of insisting on in-person interviews, you might accommodate remote interviews via video conference, ideal for people with mobility issues.

And don’t discount the value of effective recruitment marketing. Besides popular work-related platforms like LinkedIn, this should include having a presence on your social media channels, like Instagram and Facebook. This calls for creating ads, and it’s unnecessary to pay for a graphic designer or social media manager—you can design a Facebook ad yourself, for instance. When you use an online tool to customize a Facebook ad, you’re able to craft your recruiting message specifically for the differently abled, as well as use your own logo, fonts, and color schemes using editable templates.

Offer incentives that will entice differently abled individuals

When you employ people, you don’t just give them a salary. You likely also offer benefits, such as health insurance or retirement planning support. As you pivot to embrace a differently abled workforce, consider what unique benefits you might offer to draw them in. For example, employee health and wellness programs can be a big boon. Snack Nation provides a long list of possible wellness program ideas, including nutritional cooking courses, meditation or yoga classes, and weekly “Wellness Wednesday” activities. These perks benefit not only differently abled workers but all employees.

Reinforce a culture of inclusivity at every level

You can’t just hire differently abled workers and then say you have an inclusive workplace. You need to improve inclusivity at every level. For instance, you might provide sensitivity training to your other employees. This is an opportunity for them to learn how to interact with their new colleague in a way that encourages and doesn’t offend them. Your company should also show a commitment to inclusivity. You can do this via your external activities, such as supporting certain charitable causes that promote diversity and inclusion of differently abled persons.

Invest in the technology differently abled workers need to thrive

Once you bring a differently abled worker on board, find out what tools they need to succeed. They may need assistive technologies to ensure they can do their jobs well. Examples include ZoomText and Magic, which are screen-magnifying software for persons with visual disabilities. Ava is a great app for the hearing impaired, transcribing speech to written text. Dragon Naturally Speaking is a speech recognition software that can help those with physical impairments who struggle to type. Note that you may write off these tech investments on your taxes.

Bringing differently abled people into your business can have many benefits, from encouraging a more inclusive environment to improving teamwork. That said, take some steps to attract these individuals. The above guide provides some pointers.

Whispers of Hope empowers people who have cerebral palsy and learning disabilities, as well as their families and friends. Reach out today for more info! Contact Karen!

The Healing Horse, Ch. 28, Scene 3: Like Audrey Hepburn, but Sparklier and Meaner

In this scene, the “Outer Limits” theme continues… (ominous laughter echoing in my mind)

Scene 3: Like Audrey Hepburn, but Sparklier and Meaner

Karen raced ahead to the porch and waited by the white front door. Just as Mama caught up with her, rock and roll blared from inside. It was “Outer Limits” by the Marketts. The sounds of screaming came through the door even louder than the music.

“I don’t care if Exploring is educational and you want to expand your mind, you stupid little bitch! I’m going to watch New American Bandstand. If you’re so damned smart, why don’t you get a TV of your own?”

The voice was Tammy’s big sister, Sandy. But who could she be shouting at?

Then Tammy’s garbled speech came through. “I will get my own TV someday, when I grow up.”

Sandy was shouting at Tammy. Karen felt ill.

Mama grimaced and shook her head. She tapped the cast iron door knocker. The voices inside stopped, and the music ended mid-song.

A few seconds later, Sandy opened the door. Tammy sat behind her in an electric power wheelchair. It looked like the new sip-and-puff models Karen had seen demonstrated at school. Tammy was fashionably dressed in a white Mexican blouse accented by multicolor threads. Under her polished braces, she wore bright blue jeans. The blue thread in the blouse picked up the color of the jeans. Even the braces looked good. As always, Karen thought her friend looked like Audrey Hepburn, but smaller and with CP, but today her friend had a goose egg on her forehead. Karen wondered if Sandra might have completely lost her temper, but she did not like to even imagine what might have happened.

Tammy’s sister Sandy stood next to her. Rather than her usual tan Capri pants and white button front shirt, Sandy wore a loose-fitting, long-sleeved, white V-neck sweater with a large, sweeping collar, and a pair of black capris with black, patent leather flats. Her hair was pulled back into a half ponytail by a glass barrette, with sweeping bangs touching her eyebrows. Despite her height and weight, she, too, looked like Audrey Hepburn, but younger, sparklier, and meaner.

Karen’s empathy absorbed the anger radiating from Sandy. She took a deep breath before speaking. “Hi, Tammy, thanks for inviting me over, and Sandy, it’s nice to see you again. That’s a very cool outfit.”

Karen watched as Sandra forced a crystal smile and replied, “Oh, hello, Karen. Hello, Mrs. Hirschstein. And by the way, thank you, Karen. My ensemble today is inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s elegance. I’m glad you like it. Won’t you please come in?”

“Thanks,” Mama and Karen replied at the same time.

Both arms and legs thrashing in happiness, Tammy said, “Kitten, I’m glad you could make it, and I’m glad you remember my older sister Sandy. Sandy, you remember Karen and her mother, don’t you? Karen’s about the only one who will help me at school. You and Mommy took me to her house to play dress-up a while ago. We had so much fun! You remember her, don’t you?”

Without waiting for an answer, Tammy shouted, “Now, watch this!”

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

 

The Healing Horse, Ch. 28, Scene 2: Like a Living Monet

photo of bougainvillea blossoms

In this scene, Karen and Mama arrive at Tammy’s beautiful home. Everything looks perfect from the outside, but Karen’s intuition tells her it is anything but wonderful inside.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 28, Scene 2: Like a Living Monet

The Bel Air was a clean, crisp car, and Karen always felt distinguished riding in it. She savored each of the forty-five minutes that Mama drove from their Topanga Canyon bungalow down to Tammy’s house.

In Tammy’s luxurious Cheviot Hills neighborhood, plantings of acanthus and mums in white, yellow, purple and gold stood alongside asparagus ferns and impatiens below the palms that towered above the median strips on the major streets. Kitten smiled at their beauty.

Mama turned into a cul-de-sac and parked at the end. In front of Tammy’s Mediterranean style home, more flowers grew in the rock work terracing. Red, yellow, and white roses decorated both sides of it and bordered the brick path that led across the manicured from lawn from the sidewalk to the front door.

An extraordinary Thai Delight bougainvillea grew on each side of the three-car garage, like a living Monet, spectacular with rosy pink and creamy white blossoms. To the left of the house, a gray birch, with its elliptical leaves and peeling bark, made the flowers seem even brighter. Potted plants accented the terrain. Lavender and purple salvias in terracotta pots graced the brick pavers just before the entrance. Beside the archway that sheltered the front door, a courtly peppermint willow tree drooped to the ground, its leaves swinging like a pendulum in the breeze. Beneath the living room window, Miss Ruby buddleia and other butterfly bushes with their vivid pink flowers attracted butterflies and hummingbirds.

“Oh, Mama, how enchanting, the beauty and grace. And so tranquil. Don’t Tammy’s house and this beautiful neighborhood make you feel at peace?”

“Yes, of course, my Krana Layala, but don’t you feel that way about our new home, too?”

“Yes, Mama, but there’s something special about this house. Or maybe it’s just because my friend Tammy lives here.”

“That could be it. Are you still sure you want me to drop you off? Don’t you want your Mama to stay in case you need me?”

“No, Mama. I’ll be okay. It’s important for Tammy and me to visit on our own, away from school. It’s what girls our age do. We should get to do it, too.”

But after saying this, she felt a dark premonition. Something ugly would happen here, and soon.

“Okay, my daughter. I’ll stay just long enough to be polite, and then I’ll make myself scarce. I can run some errands and pick you up later.”

Karen did not reply. She just pulled the door handle.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

(Image attribution: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Healing Horse, Ch. 28: Visiting Tammy, Scene 1: Roses and Outer Limits

outer limits nightmare

This scene foreshadows the rest of the chapter, which explores some themes of being disabled, raising a disabled child, and avoiding overwhelm. As Mama says, we all have our limits, and our Outer Limits.

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(Image attribution: ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The days rolled by like a child roller-skating down the sidewalk and, on this beautiful early spring Saturday, Karen prepared for her first visit to Tammy’s. She opened her wardrobe and chose blue denim pedal pushers and a soft baby-blue cardigan. From her dresser she took a white cotton crew neck shirt with three-quarter length sleeves. She could put these on without help, and she admired herself in the mirror after she dressed. The year was 1964, and Karen had turned thirteen years old the week before.

She knew that, while learning new lessons in life, she was also being given opportunities to share her growing wisdom. She sensed that this visit to Tammy’s would be important both as a learning opportunity for herself and as an opportunity to share this wisdom.

In the kitchen, she toasted bagels for herself and Mama, then read while Mama showered and changed out of her gardening clothes. In a few minutes, Mama walked in wearing a dark blue sleeveless dress with a floral pattern and a white sweater over her shoulders.

In a deep voice, Mama intoned, “We now return control of your garden to you, until next week at the same time, when the roses will take you to Your Outer Limits.”

“Mama, I thought you loved all the flowers around our new home. Besides, you don’t have any limits. You can do anything.”

“I do love them, my Krana Layala, but sometimes I feel like they’re more than I can handle. All the pruning and dead-heading. It’s never ending.”

“Mama, you can do it. They’re beautiful and worth the effort. I’ll start helping you. You can teach me what to do, and maybe I can do it for you.”

“You’re such a good girl. That would be great, ‘cause I am at my limits with the yard work.”

“Why don’t you sit down and relax? Let me put a schmear and some lox on the bagels I toasted. Should I make you a coffee?”

“Coffee would be wonderful.”

As Karen fixed the food and coffee, she said, “Seriously, Mama, do we all have outer limits?” She said the last two words in her deepest voice.

“You should ask Pegasus.”

“I will, but he’s not here. Can you help me understand this?”

Mama sighed. “We do, but a lot of times it’s because we take on more than we can handle. Or we don’t ask for help when we need it. So, it’s kind of something we do to ourselves. Unless there’s a natural disaster or an alien invasion.”

She used her deep voice when she said alien invasion. They both laughed. Karen put her mother’s food and coffee on the table, then brought her own over from the kitchen counter.

Mama sipped the coffee and said, “Just what I need to perk me up. Tammy’s mother is always so stressed. I want to be at my best for your visit.”

After quickly eating and cleaning up, the two hurried out the door to Mama’s well-loved black and salmon 1955 Chevy Bel Air.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

Honored to Serve–My Time on a Board

Photo of Karen in 1998

This is me enjoying the sun in a park while I was on the Harbor Regional Board

Harbor Regional Center is in Torrance, California, where it provides a wide range of services to people with disabilities and their families.

I volunteered at the Center. Eventually, the management asked me to sit on the board of their Consumer Services Committee. This was in 1998. Because I had disabilities, and because I had devoted my life to helping others with disabilities, they wanted my perspective on how they could improve the services they offered.

I eagerly accepted. Being on a board was a first for me. I felt honored, even though this would be another volunteer position that cut into the time I needed to earn my living as a fitness instructor and dance teacher.

This was during the prime of my life. I had already learned a lot and wanted to share my knowledge. Through my own cerebral palsy and dyslexia, I had learned to be independent and interdependent in a dependent world. Despite having a learning disability, I had learned to read. I had learned to walk without a leg brace, despite cerebral palsy. I had leaned to deal with not only my own feelings, even about being labeled mentally retarded because I tested poorly. All these life-giving lessons made me think perhaps I could give back some whispers of hope, be a voice for the voiceless, and an example of what change could look like. I would be the right kind of change, without interference from so-called experts with their own agendas.

I wanted to make my time on the board show that people with disabilities can define for themselves what kind of support they need. This was a new idea at the time. It went beyond what was then the norm. People should not be confined, but freed. I wondered what I would learn from this new experience. And I wondered where it would take me.

Serving on the board was an important part of my effort to bring about a more inclusive, open, and fair society. I emphasized five main ideas.

1. We are human beings and want to be treated with dignity and respect.
2. We have the same inalienable human rights as people without disabilities.
3. We do not want to be looked down on.
4. We need meaning and purpose in life. We want to set our own direction and create our own meaning. No one wants to spend their days on meaningless busywork, which was what most institutions and programs gave us.
5. We have the right to choose which services we receive. Professionals cannot decide for us. People with disabilities should be able to choose from a variety of options.

Being on the board was one sure way I could lift and nourish. I could listen, extend my support, and raise people’s hope. I could be a friend and help them smile and work through their issues. Perhaps, just perhaps, by coming together, we could create a new mindset. I could help them draw upon their experience, wants, and desires to see that they, too, could change their lives and learn to think differently about their situations.

Now, it is twenty-two years later, and we are still grappling with the same issues. Although we have made progress, we still need to show the world who we are, what we need, and what we can offer. The world does not know us as we truly are.

We humans need to build each other up, not tear each other down. We need to find ways to communicate effectively, to understand one another, and to articulate our needs. Just because someone may dress differently, have a different skin color, a different ethnicity, or special needs doesn’t justify taking advantage of them. There is no need to tear each other apart, make it more difficult for anyone to accomplish their goals, or stop them from reaching their dreams. We all need to stop feeling threatened by people who are physically different and want more for themselves. We need to open up to everyone. On a social level, this must happen regarding opportunities, medical insurance/care, and government services.

Then, perchance, we can all live in harmony. I feel the way I do because this has happened to me my entire life.

In closing, I hope all of us in our world can work out our differences, help one another, and change our mindsets; because, without this, nothing is possible. We have seen for generations the other way does not work.

My question for you is how can we make this happen?

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 10: Horseshoes Don’t Have Shoelaces

photo of a lucky horseshoe nailed to the side of a barn

This is the last scene of Chapter 27, and a happy one. But stay tuned for some serious drama coming in Chapter 28, as Karen sees how badly family dynamics can go… 

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(Image attribution: Man vyi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 10: Horseshoes Don’t Have Shoelaces

Karen was so excited by her success at school that she ran all the way to the stables.

“Pegasus! Where are you?”

Her mentor walked around the corner of the barn. “You sound excited. Is everything okay, Kitten?”

“it’s better than okay. I turned in my report—the one I told you about—on Connecticut. My teacher had trouble believing I’d written it. Then I showed him my notes, and he could see I had. He almost cried, he was so happy. He said I’d go to college for sure. Then I told the class that if I could do it, they could too, and they cheered for me. Even on the bus home, they cheered. I’m the school hero.”

“You’ve come a long way from the little girl who would not give up on learning to tie her shoes.”

Karen thought fondly of Miss Kimiko, the occupational therapist who had figured out how to teach her about the laces. Karen never gave up. Neither did Miss Kimiko.

Pegasus looked her in the eye. “How do you suppose you did that great report?”

“My new study skills, of course.”

“All because of your new study skills?”

“Yes.”

“Then isn’t there someone you should thank?”

“Miss Natalie… yes.”

“Hop on my back, brave Kitten. I’ll give you a ride home so you can call her.”

He walked to the nearest fence so she could climb up onto him. Then he took a few steps and stopped.

“Hurry up, Pegasus. I need to call Miss Natalie right now.”

“I can’t, Kitten. My shoelaces need tying.”

They both laughed, and Karen hugged his neck. “Oh, Pegasus! You are so funny. Horseshoes don’t have laces!”

“Good thing, Kitten. Because horses don’t have hands.”

They laughed more, and he broke into a trot.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 9: Cheers for Karen

photo of confetti in the sky

On the bus home after her school report, Karen gets a happy surprise as the other kids cheer her.

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Scene 9: Cheers for Karen

The kids on the bus home from school were rowdier, and happier, than usual. The ones who had seen Karen’s presentation had told the others, and word had spread through the school.

“Karen did an A+ report… Teacher couldn’t believe it… Then she showed him how she did it… He almost cried, he was so happy… We cheered, and then she told us if she could do it, we could do it too.

As Mr. Hinton slowed the school bus near Karen’s house, cheers went up. The students chanted, “Ka-ren! Ka-ren! Ka-ren! Yay!” over and over.

Tammy, who rarely tried to speak to anyone other than Karen, raised her voice and said, “Let’s all remember what Karen said. We don’t have to let our disabilities stop us. If Karen can do it, then so can we!”

Amazingly, her words came out crisp and clear. The uproar in the bus stopped. Everyone looked at Tammy and nodded.

Mr. Hinton stopped the bus and opened the door. Karen stood up. As she walked up the aisle to the front of the bus, all the students who could reached out to shake her hand or pat her on the shoulder. Mr. Hinton said, “Karen, the whole school is proud of you.”

She hopped down to the ground and waved as the bus drove away. She was tired. It had been a great day, but emotionally exhausting.

Mama had warned Karen that she would have to work late, so she would not be home until after Karen returned from school. So instead of going into the house, Karen headed for the stables. She needed to talk with Pegasus and get herself centered.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

(Image attribution: nathanmac87, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

Tying is Trying

diagram of how to tie a bow knot step-by-step

How many times have you tied your shoelaces? How many times have you looped your ears and pulled the strings through? How many times were they too loose? And how many times did you pull those ears tight enough so you could walk without them falling apart?

It’s not easy tying shoes with one or two fingers, or even with one hand, like me. But if we keep practicing with what we have, we will master bow-tying and anything else in our lives. It took me a long time to get those show laces right. It took a wonderful occupational therapist to show me how. Simple for some, tying laces was not for me, with only one working hand.

We have to keep building up our strength and putting our best effort forward to accomplish our feats (pun intended). It takes a lot of encouragement to use our abilities until we get something just right. When we are children, we need that encouragement. As simple as something might seem, it’s not always simple for us. It takes practice and dedication. Time can be our best friend. Starting is the key.

I affirm: today I will practice, practice, and keep practicing for as long as it takes. I will keep learning how to loop my bows securely. I will learn how to hold them tight enough, in place, and nurture my movements until I’m able to pull the ears through. As a person with a disability, I am committed to learning to tie my shoes.

That’s what I told myself when I was seven years old and struggling with shoelaces. Now I say, if I can do it, if I could do it, then you can learn it too.

Keep your faith in yourself. You can do it too!

Original text ©2022 Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

(Image from OCAD U, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Healing Horse, Ch. 27, Scene 8: If I Can Do It, You Can Too

map of connecticut

On her first day after spring break, Karen reads her report aloud. At first, the teacher can’t believe she wrote it, but she explains how she did it. He’s so happy, that he almost cries. 

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(Image attribution: cropped by User:Cmprince, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 8: If I Can Do It, You Can Too

The next Monday was the first day of school after break. Karen took her seat in the social studies classroom and carefully placed her report and display on the desk in front of her.

The teacher said, “Welcome back to school, kids! I hope you all had a wonderful spring break, and I’m eager to see your reports. You can take turns reading them aloud to the class, and then we’ll pin your displays on the bulletin board. Who wants to go first?’“

Karen remembered how ashamed she used to be when a teacher asked for a volunteer. She had always been afraid of letting anyone see her work. But that had been then, and this was now.

“Me!” she said. “I want to go first.”

“Karen, that’s a surprise. But come on up to the front and go ahead.”

She carried her report and display to the front of the room and stood with her back to the greenboard. She rested the display part on the chalk tray and leaned it so everyone could see the map of Connecticut. Then she read the report out loud.

The teacher looked at her with his mouth open. He frowned and said, “Could I see that report, please?”

Karen felt something was wrong. His look said he was suspicious of her. He scanned through the report.

“It’s your handwriting, all right. How did you find all the information?”

She got it. He thought somebody else, like Mama, had done the report. He thought she had cheated. She took a deep breath. This was no time to lose her temper. She opened the bag and took out her outline.

“See, I made an outline that followed your written instructions so I wouldn’t leave anything out. Then I looked up each piece of information and wrote down where I found it. Like here.” She pointed. “Page seventy-two of History of the New England Colonies. Then I started with a clean piece of paper and wrote what I found out, but in my own words. After I finished writing, I traced the map and flag. It’s my new study skills. I’m learning to plan ahead and do things a step at a time instead of just jumping in and then getting all disorganized.

The teacher smiled, and she thought she caught the gleam of a tear in one of his eyes. “Karen, this is really good.” His voice sounded husky, like he was feeling emotional. “You don’t know what it means to a teacher and see a student take a giant step like this. You’re always talking about how you want to go to college. If you keep up like this, nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams.”

Karen said, “Thank you,” but no one could hear her words. The rest of the class was cheering and clapping their hands too loudly. They were cheering for her. They were clapping for her.

When they stopped, she quietly said to them, “If I can do it, you can do it too,” and returned to her seat.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

Changes Are Coming at a Gallop!

photo of carousel horse

Dear readers,

I have decided to make a change in how often I post scenes from The Healing Horse. I have been posting them three times every week, and now I want to cut back to one. Why? Because I have not been able to post much of anything else. The Healing Horse posts keep me so busy! 

So beginning this week, I am going to post a scene from The Healing Horse once a week, on Wednesdays. 

Instead of seeing three scenes from The Healing Horse every week, you will see only one of them and blog posts on other topics, such as how I cured my diabetes and high blood pressure (and, yes, it is possible no matter what your doctor thinks), my interview with Prof. Sean P. Dineen, and other exciting things. 

Please stay tuned and remember

If I can do it, you can do it too!

Lots of love,

Your Kitten (Karen Lynn-Chlup)

(Image by Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)