10 Steps to consider with Digital Accessibility How digital helps you create an Inclusive Workplace (POSTER)

Sometimes organisations forget that digital accessibility is as important for their staff as it is for their customers and clients.

So, for National Disability Employment Awareness Month in December 2020, our Digital Accessibility Experts Live webinar looked at the importance of digital accessibility to make sure your staff with disabilities are supported by your digital tools to be productive and thrive.

To summarise the webinar, and share some hints and tips, we have created a poster on Digital Accessibility in Workplace Inclusion across an employee’s full employment journey – from reputation, through recruitment, onboarding, communication, progression, and a good exit.

The poster

Here’s an image of the poster. It has a brief alt-text summary. Click here for the full text of the poster.

Download the poster

Here’s the PDF download of the poster

We’d suggest you print it off and put it somewhere in your team space to remember how accessibility can help your staff to be more productive and thrive.

Feel free to share it freely with anyone who you think would appreciate it. Like the gov.uk accessibility ‘dos and don’ts’ posters of a few years ago, we’ve made it available under a Creative Commons license which allows everyone to share, use and build upon the poster provided is is used non-commercially and keep the appropriate attributions (Hassell Inclusion and Creative Commons logos).

Want more?

If you’re interested in hearing more about the needs of staff who have disabilities:

• Check out my video interview on Supporting Remote Work for Employees with Disabilities, with Proctor & Gamble’s Accessibility Lead, Sumaira Latif, for D+I Leaders (requires registration for access)
• Learn more directly in one of our Disability Awareness ‘Speed Dating’ sessions which enables all your staff to learn how people with disabilities use digital technologies, and what you need to do to support their digital needs and preferences, by speaking directly with people with those conditions.
• If you like this poster, you may like our poster on Dos and Don’ts on designing for older people
• Sign-up for the Hassell Inclusion newsletter to get more insights like this in your email every month.

Transcript of the text on the poster

1. Motivation

• The best talent want to work for companies that care about Diversity & Inclusion
• So make sure your D&I words are not just compelling, but are based on actual practices that can deliver this

2. Disclosure

• Create an atmosphere where staff feel comfortable telling you about their impairments
• You may find you have more staff with impairments than you think

3. Reputation

• Make sure your website’s key talent user journey (homepage, about us, values, vacancies) is as accessible as what you say in it
• Check how your reputation for accessibility compares with your competition for talent

4. Recruitment

• Make sure people can apply to work for you in an accessible way
• Ensure your selection and interview process takes people’s access needs and preferences into account

5. Adjustment

• Consider workplace adjustments across digital, built-environment or work from home, hours and performance targets
• Work collaboratively with your new hire to get the best outcome for them and you

6. Onboarding

• Ensure your hire’s familiarisation with your work environment before their starting date, and provide a “support buddy” when they arrive
• Make sure mandatory eLearning is accessible

7. Tools

• Ensure proof of accessibility is required in procurement of digital tools, and provide alternatives for getting tasks done if a tool isn’t accessible to all
• Retain accessibility when customising tools for your workplace, and train staff to use them well

8. Communications

• Ensure your video conferencing and Intranet are accessible
• Train people in accessible meeting etiquette and creating accessible content to support the needs of all

9. Support

• Provide personal support via disability support networks
• Ensure IT support desks understand assistive technologies provided as workplace adjustments

10. Progression & Exit

• The right support, tools and environment will enable people with disabilities to thrive and grow their career with you
• Get this right, and even after they leave, they’ll still say great things about you to help you recruit the next generation of talented staff