Did you know that nearly one in five people are living with disability?

Maybe that sounds high to you. You might think you don’t encounter that many people with a disability in a given day.

Now consider that up to 90 percent of people with a disability are living with one that’s invisible.

Disability – definition: Disability awareness means understanding that there are many types of disability, and that they’re not always obvious. It also means understanding that without disability awareness training in an organization, there are many barriers to workplace inclusion for people with a disability.

Shifting perceptions around barriers

With growing awareness and more readily available training, our perception of disability has shifted over the past few decades, which is helping to break down the barriers created by our attitudes.

Previously, disability was seen as something “wrong” with someone. This focused on the person’s “problem,” rather than how society or the surrounding environment could accommodate that person’s different needs.

However, we now understand that disability can be exacerbated by the barriers that society puts up. Rather than trying to “fix” a person with a disability, we now try to fix the problems in the environment, so that it’s inclusive of everyone. Training on this topic of Disability Awareness is an effective way of demonstrating to your workers that an environment can be physical, information-based or related to attitudes and language.

Is your workplace barrier-free?

Taking the time to understand disability is the first step. It’s especially important to consider the invisible disabilities, or the barriers that you weren’t previously aware of. This can make a huge difference on how you see your workplace and how your workplace includes people with a disability.

It can also help to consider your workplace as it currently exists by asking the following questions:

• What kind of language do we use? Is it inclusive?
• Can people access the information they need, regardless of disability?
• Is our workplace physically accessible for everyone?

Benefits of a barrier-free workplace

Being inclusive makes sense. It’s good for the community, as it creates more employment opportunities for people with a disability. It’s also good for the business because it creates more diverse workforces with a wider range of experience. Employees and customers are also more loyal to businesses that value diversity and inclusion. Investing in and implementing effective, comprehensive workplace training on Disability Awareness goes a long way toward cultivating these values.

The role of workplace training

Educating your workers is an important step in breaking down barriers to inclusion. Disability Awareness in the Workplace is just one of the courses in the Litmos content library that organizations can immediately roll out to their workforce.

At Litmos, we also understand the importance of promoting inclusion in the workplace. We have several other courses available, such as LGBTIQ+ Inclusion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Inclusion and Cultural Safety, Digital Accessibility – Tips for Elearning, and our Creating Value Through Diversity and Inclusion suite.

Ask us how we can help your organization create an inclusive workplace today.