A long, long time ago…before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and shortly after I graduated college, I applied for a position and was contacted for an interview. As was my habit, I drove around the building looking for wheelchair access because usually ramps were located in the back of buildings where deliveries were received. In this case there were no ramps at the building, which surprised me because the building was about 5 stories high. Continue reading ‘Accessible Interview’
Archive for the 'accessibility' Category
Accessible Interview
Published May 7, 2018 accessibility , Employment , finding employment 1 CommentTags: Accommodation, ADA, applicant, employer, Gulf Coast, hardship, Houston jobs, Interview, reasonable, undue, Workforce Solutions
Spring into Action
Published March 26, 2018 accessibility , Employment , finding employment ClosedTags: career, choose work, Gulf Coast, Houston jobs, Social Security, Ticket to Work, work, Workforce Solutions
Spring is my favorite time of year because there are signs all around that illustrate new beginnings. The phrase “new beginnings” sounds redundant, but really is not because life often gives us the opportunity to begin again from where we were previously. Flowers that died over the winter begin blooming again, grass that turned brown is turning green again, leaves that fell last autumn are showing up again, and the Houston Astros will win the World Series…again! Continue reading ‘Spring into Action’
Can you Identify?
Published November 27, 2017 accessibility , awareness , Employment 6 CommentsTags: ability, Accommodation, change agent, community, Disability, Diversity, effective, equal opportunity, family, Gulf Coast, help, hireability, Houston jobs, inclusion, innovation, invisible disability, opportunity, self-identify, visible, Who I Am, Workforce Solutions
In my role as Equal Opportunity Officer for Workforce Solutions, I frequently create and conduct trainings related to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. I spend hours doing research and investigating best practices. This role has offered me the opportunity to counsel staff on how to go about requesting accommodations, offer direction to employers on how to work through the interactive process when responding to accommodation requests, and follow up with individuals to determine whether provided accommodations are working for them. I have been able to partner with organizations and participate in events dedicated to enhancing the employment opportunities available to individuals with disabilities. Continue reading ‘Can you Identify?’
Diversity and Inclusion: Good Business Model
Published October 23, 2017 accessibility , Employment ClosedTags: bias, companies, differences, diverse, Diversity, Gulf Coast, Houston jobs, inclusion, socially, Workforce Solutions
Houston is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States, so it’s vital for companies in the Gulf Coast area to recognize the importance of having a culture of diversity and inclusion. I recently read a great book about diversity called That’s BS [Bias Synapse] by Risha Grant. It talks about how individual biases, which were developed over a span of their life, creates the beliefs people have about a particular culture, group or religion. Continue reading ‘Diversity and Inclusion: Good Business Model’
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Published October 2, 2017 accessibility , awareness , Employment 1 CommentTags: awareness, celebrate, Disability, Employment, Gulf Coast, Houston jobs, ideas, inclusion, NDEAM, october, opportunity, people, practices, success, Workforce Solutions
For more than 70 years, Americans have celebrated the inclusion of people with disabilities as a valuable asset to the workforce during the month of October which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s theme for NDEAM is “Inclusion Drives Innovation” as Americans reflect on the important role that different perspectives play in workforce success. Continue reading ‘National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)’
Deaf-Blindness Awareness Week
Published June 26, 2017 accessibility , Employment ClosedTags: awareness, Deaf-Blind, Disability, Gulf Coast, Houston jobs, Texas, Workforce Solutions
We all have important roles to play in building the Texas of tomorrow. Therefore, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim June 25-30, 2017, to be Helen Keller Deaf-Blindness Awareness Week in Texas, and urge the appropriate recognition whereof. In official recognition whereof, I hereby affix my signature this the 6th day of June, 2017. — Office of the Governor Continue reading ‘Deaf-Blindness Awareness Week’
Web Accessibility: Auditory
Published June 5, 2017 accessibility , Employment ClosedTags: accessible web, audio, captions, Gulf Coast, Houston jobs, transcripts, Workforce Solutions
Back “in the day” the Internet was primarily used for the sharing of text only and perhaps a graph or two among collegiate professionals. Since its introduction to the public it has grown to include a variety of different styles of text, images and audio. In fact, I watched a short weather report from a local news station on the Internet just this morning before work. So with all the many new advancements in technology, how can we be sure the audio portion is accessible to folks who are hard of hearing or deaf? Continue reading ‘Web Accessibility: Auditory’
