Thought Exchange Feedback: Reflection on disability in the workplace
Posted on Monday, October 17th, 2022
In the first two weeks of Algonquin College’s EDI ThoughtExchange – an important exercise in gathering input, ideas and insights from the college’s employee community on ways to ensure our workplaces are equitable, diverse and inclusive – there were a great many thoughts shared which identified key areas of exploration, signs of strength and opportunities for improvement toward our collective goals. One such area of opportunity we thought best to highlight is on the topic of disability inclusion.
In our first week, the question posed focused on the most impactful, specific actions your direct manager at the College can take to create a workplace strongly characterized by equity, diversity, inclusion and a sense of belonging. In week two we asked “what actions would reassure you that career opportunities at Algonquin College are fair for everyone?”.
Of the many insightful ideas discussed, those which made specific reference to disability are driving home a crucial need for increasing the availability and awareness of supports, better education and solid solutions for addressing ableism, the stigma of asking for accommodations at work, and disclosing a disability:
Week Two Thought Ranked #47 of 123:
Asking for accommodation is intimidating for candidates. Not sure how to make it easier. As an internal candidate, I have hesitated to ask for accommodation during interview for fear of bias.
Week One Thought Ranked #2 of 133:
be mindful that not all disabilities are apparent, therefore for meetings/events, ask if any accommodations are needed. Some people are shy to bring up, but if question is asked beforehand, maybe they will ask for accommodation.
Week One Thought Ranked #15 of 133:
Promote people with diverse backgrounds & strongly support them. There are many supports for students, but little for faculty comparatively. Disabled, visible minority, & queer faculty need to be protected and properly supported with policy, resources, and techs, just like the students.
Week One Thought Ranked #21 of 133:
Many people struggle with mental illness or invisible disabilities – ensure they feel safe coming to you for assistance if they are struggling So many suffer in silence with invisible illnesses, and self esteem, job performance, etc all suffer creating a cycle. They should feel safe to share.
Week Two Thought Ranked #94 of 123:
Having the ability to feel like if you share your identities or disabilities in the interview process. Not having to hide who you are or some of your challenges to be able to show yourself better would make it more equitable.
There is no shortage of resources out there to brush up on this subject, however if you are looking for a quick and robust introduction that covers a lot of ground in under an hour, check out organizational psychologist, Adam Grant’s podcast episode on the topic:
Work Life with Adam Grant- It’s Time To Stop Ignoring Disability
Disability is far more common and far more diverse than we might realize. But often, people are reluctant to reveal their disabilities, and managers don’t know how to address them. In this episode, Adam investigates some extraordinary steps workplaces are taking to support people with disabilities– and those without.
- Links to Apple and Spotify:
- Transcript of episode:
If you have thoughts to share on disability inclusion at the College, we highly encourage you to take part in week three of the ThoughtExchange, where we are asking:
“What actions or resources would help College employees with disabilities to feel comfortable to seek an accommodation if required?” If you are an employee with a disability, please click this link below to be taken to the Dedicated Exchange for Employees with a Disability.
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