10 Ways to Celebrate Disability

Adapted from the article by Heather Karellas
Celebrating Disability Awareness Month in March, Disability Pride Month in July, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October is a powerful way to foster a more inclusive workplace. By embracing and planning ahead for celebrations, your company can create a supportive environment that values diversity, encourages equal opportunities, and enhances overall morale and productivity.

Emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and support for individuals with disabilities not only enriches the company culture but can also drive innovation and success. A few of our favorite ideas:

Learn about the history of activism for accessibility and equity
Invite guest speakers or organize a panel session
Partner with organization or nonprofits that serve people with disabilities
Start an employee resource group (ERG) for employees with disabilities
Explore podcasts, books, and movies highlighting different disabilities and related topics

1. Organizing Disability Awareness Events
Hosting a guest speaker
Organizing a panel discussion with a Q&A session
Planning an educational film screening
Integrating a disability simulation for better understanding
Remember to pay your guest speakers and provide honorariums for panel participation, etc. In honoring and celebrating people with disabilities, it is important to not use these activities as a means by which to extract free labor and knowledge.

2. Implementing Accessibility Initiatives
Installing ramps
Constructing accessible restrooms
Utilizing assistive technologies
Accessible website design (pro tip: widgets like UserWay can help automate this!)
Offering adjustable workstations that can be customized for differing physical needs
Ensuring all company videos include captions
Hiring ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters for keynote speeches, events, etc.
Installing Braille signage
Visit ada.gov to learn more about workplace accessibility laws, regulations, and standards as well as explore a variety of resource materials.

3. Planning Inclusive Activities
Social events, team-building activities, and workshops that promote inclusivity and celebrate the diverse talents and contributions of individuals with disabilities. For instance, the Disability Pride event from Unexpected Virtual Tours & Training blends learning and fun for an hour-long interactive, virtual team experience.

4. Highlighting Success Stories and Role Models
Celebrate the resilience, strength, and tenacity of the disability community by sharing inspiring stories of individuals who have overcome challenges and made significant contributions in their fields. You can host film screenings, organize a book club, share a Ted Talk, or invite a guest speaker. Remember that when celebrating success stories, it’s important not to minimize real challenges and barriers that people with disabilities often face. No amount of “positive attitude” will turn stairs into a ramp; structural change is needed alongside inspirational stories and successes.

5. Providing Educational Resources
Offer educational resources such as books, articles, podcasts, and movies that promote greater awareness and understanding of people with disabilities. Encourage employees to engage with these resources and share their insights with their colleagues. Start an impromptu book club at work and read books like Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau, Disability Visibility by Alice Wong, or another book by a disabled author. Additionally, explore this list of 8 Disability Podcasts That Are Well Worth a Listen from Forbes.

6. Partnering with Disability Organizations
Collaborate with local or national organizations that serve disabled people to provide support, resources, and guidance for employees with disabilities. These activities can also benefitting the organization that you work with, creating a win-win for everyone. Activities can include inviting representatives from these organizations to speak at events or provide training sessions and workshops. You can also partner with nonprofits that provide resources for – and/or advocate for – the disabled community. Consider sponsoring an event, organizing a volunteer project, or amplifying the nonprofit’s message and mission. Moreover, keep the partnerships going year-round! If your team enjoys the project, consider planning a quarterly volunteer day, or make a monthly contribution.

7. Celebrating Different Types of Disabilities
There are many types of disabilities – from physical disabilities to sensory disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and mental health conditions. Remember, many disabilities are “invisible.” In other words, you may not be able to tell that someone is disabled simply by looking at them, or even interacting with them.
Honor and celebrate each team member’s differences by offering flexible work arrangements, accessible facilities, inclusive communication (including text, audio, and visual aids), training programs, “quiet zones” in the office, and open dialogue.

8. Promoting Disability Etiquette and Language
Often, people have good intentions – but they may not be aware that something they are saying or doing is offensive or outdated. To facilitate ongoing learning, offer your team guidance on etiquette and inclusive language. You can also book a fun and educational program that blends learning with team camaraderie.

9. Encouraging Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Forming Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) focused on awareness and support for employees with disabilities is another one of our favorite disability ideas. It’s also a great year-round idea! These groups can provide a safe, interactive, welcoming platform for employees with disabilities and allies to connect, share experiences, and advocate for inclusive practices within the organization. Furthermore, an ERG can be help employees unwind with social activities after the workday and build strong interpersonal relationships at work. In turn, this can help improve cross-departmental collaboration, problem-solving, communication, and trust in the office.

10. Celebrate Diversity Months All Year Long!
Go beyond monthly celebrations to embrace advocacy and equity all year long! Additional ideas to explore throughout the year include:
Examining hiring practices to ensure an inclusive process for disabled applicants
Host ongoing volunteer opportunities and/or philanthropic initiatives to support the disabled community
Plan monthly or quarterly awareness events or training sessions
Create a mentorship program for employees with disabilities
Regularly update digital materials and physical spaces with accessibility in mind

https://unexpectedvirtualtours.com/resources/disability-month-ideas