There are many kinds of accommodations that employers can offer to be more inclusive to individuals with disabilities. Examples include:<ul><li>Additional medical leave to give employees time to attend to their health</li><li>Job restructuring to ensure the employee is able to fulfill job responsibilities</li><li>Allowing a more flexible work schedule for employees to maintain their routine</li><li>Making the office wheelchair-friendly with a ramp and/or automatic doors</li><li>Hiring an interpreter for a hearing-impaired worker or purchasing software to enable a blind employee to perform job duties</li></ul>

Accomodations For The Disabled

People with disabilities are the largest minority group in our country, Yet they are also one of the most underemployed. 
Although 61 million adults in the U.S. have a disability, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities increased from 7.3% to 12.6% in 2020, as compared to a 4.4% to 7.9% jump for those without a disability.

Candidates With Disabilities

To avoid pitfalls, employers should prioritize understanding the various forms that disability discrimination can take, move proactively to emphasize inclusion in their hiring practices and be prepared to accommodate an employee’s disability. Employers may inadvertently discriminate against job applicants with disabilities by treating them unfairly due to their condition. An example of this is job listings that use words that risk discouraging candidates with disabilities from applying because they emphasize a physical-activity requirement.

Avoiding Pitfalls

The most common reasons for this gap include misconceptions regarding the capabilities of individuals with disabilities, as well not knowing how to accommodate for that disability.
As a result, employers that are unsure of how to best incorporate individuals with disabilities into the workforce can fall into the trap of not adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Misconceptions And The Reason

It’s not necessary to excessively characterize or exaggerate the physical demands of a position; simply state the requirements of the position, with the knowledge that someone who applies will clarify how they can meet the requirements with ADA accommodations. Additionally, employers can increase the opportunity for diverse hiring opportunities by listing job qualifications using more general, open-ended language, or using proactively inclusive language that makes it clear the employer is accustomed to providing accommodations under ADA.

Saying No Without Saying No

Discrimination can also occur during the interview process when interviewers may feel compelled to ask about the nature or severity of an applicant’s disabilities, such as asking about an individual’s limitations in the workplace or whether they are able to accomplish certain responsibilities. 
Trust that an individual who is applying for the job will assume the responsibility of doing that job and will clarify their need for accommodation if needed.

The Disability Becoming A Reason For Rejection

Many individuals with disabilities won’t apply for jobs that don’t relay flexibility regarding work-from-home or mention any kind of disability policy in the benefits section. 
Keeping these elements in mind when crafting job postings will help encourage more inclusivity and diversity of applicants and help employers avoid discrimination in the hiring process.

Disability Unfriendly

Organizational practices for everyone to become more inclusive and enhance the performance of their teams.