In the modern work environment, diversity and inclusion are becoming more and more important. As our workforce becomes increasingly diverse, it’s essential that we create a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. One way to do this is through disability awareness training.
In this guide, we will explore the importance of both disability awareness and disability awareness training in 2022.
We will outline key ways in which such training can benefit both employees and employers alike, before providing a few tips on how to get started with disability awareness training in your workplace.
Why is Disability Awareness Important in the Workplace?
Disability awareness plays a key role in creating a workplace that is inclusive for all. By raising awareness of the experiences and needs of employees with disabilities, we can create a more understanding and supportive environment for everyone. This ensures that they feel included and valued at work, which can make a huge difference to their overall wellbeing.
There are also business benefits to disability awareness at work. Research by HR Review has found that firms who embrace a culture of equality are growing faster in both sales (2.9 x) and profits (4.1 x) in comparison to their peers.
While some businesses are doing the work to ensure an inclusive, aware and diverse workplace community, others are yet to reap the benefits of making this a priority.
There are many additional business benefits to creating a disability-inclusive workplace, including:
- Improved employee morale and motivation
- Increased productivity
- Greater creativity and innovation
- Improved retention rates
- Enhanced reputation and brand image.
The true importance of disability awareness in the workplace lies in the fact that all human beings deserve to be treated with respect and provided with the professional rights they are legally entitled to. More awareness at work is a key step towards this.
The Importance of Disability Awareness Training in 2022
Disability awareness training can help to achieve all of these things by educating employees about the importance of inclusion, and providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to create a more inclusive workplace.
Disability awareness training is designed to educate employees about the different types of disabilities, the challenges that people with these disabilities may face in the workplace and how to raise awareness in the workplace.
The aim of such training is to promote a greater understanding and acceptance of employees with disabilities, and to ultimately create a more inclusive workplace where people of all abilities can stay – and succeed – in work.
Key benefits of disability awareness training
In addition to the general benefits of disability awareness at work, disability awareness training offers some key benefits itself. These include:
- Investing in training and development opportunities for employees is a great way to improve job satisfaction and loyalty. In fact, research has found that 94% of employees would stay with their current employer longer if they were offered more training and learning opportunities.
- By attending disability awareness training, employees will develop a professional understanding of the different types of disabilities and the challenges that a disabled person may face. This improved knowledge and understanding can lead to more awareness and a more inclusive workplace where employees feel comfortable discussing their needs and disclosing their disabilities.
- Disability awareness training can create a stronger leadership team that is better equipped to support employees with disabilities and spread awareness throughout their team. In turn, this can lead to improved morale and motivation among employees, as well as increased productivity.
What Does Disability Awareness Training Cover?
There are many different types of disability awareness training available, but some common topics covered include:
- Types of disabilities and hidden disabilities
- Impact of disabilities in the workplace
- How non-disabled employees can support differently abled colleagues
- Tackling stereotypes, disability discrimination and misconceptions about people with disabilities
- Ways to create a more inclusive workplace environment.
Disability awareness training can be delivered in a variety of ways, including face-to-face workshops, e-learning courses, or even webinars. It’s important to choose a training format that will work best for your organisation and employees.
Getting Started with Disability Awareness Training in Your Workplace
If you’re thinking about introducing disability awareness training in your workplace, there are a few things you need to consider. Here are a few tips to get you started:
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Assess the needs of your organisation
The first step is to assess the needs of your organisation. Have you considered Workplace Needs Assessments or regular employee 1:1s to discuss their individual needs?
What are your specific goals for introducing disability awareness training? What do you hope to achieve? Once you have a better understanding of your goals, you can start to look for training programmes that will meet these needs.
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Choose the right format
There are many different formats for disability awareness training, so it’s important to choose one that will work best for your organisation and employees. If you have a large workforce, for example, you may want to consider an e-learning course that can be completed by employees in their own time. Alternatively, if you have a small team, a face-to-face workshop might be a better option.
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Find an accredited training provider
When choosing a training provider, it’s important to make sure they are accredited and have experience delivering disability awareness training. This will ensure that you’re getting high-quality, reliable training that meets your organisation’s needs.
At Thriiver, we offer expert disability awareness training that can help your organisation create a more inclusive workplace. Our courses are delivered by experienced trainers and are tailored to meet the needs of your organisation.
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Book your course!
Once you’ve found a training provider that you’re happy with, it’s time to book your course! You can usually do this directly via their website by sending an enquiry.
You’ll need to provide some basic information about your organisation, as well as the number of employees you want to train. Once you’ve made your booking, you’ll receive all the materials you need to get started.
Most courses will be delivered over 1 or 2 days, but this will vary depending on your provider.
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Implement anything learnt
The final step is to implement what you’ve learnt from the training in your workplace. This might involve making some changes to your policies and procedures, such as providing assistive technology for disabled employees, or it could be something as simple as raising awareness of disability issues among employees, or providing access for wheelchair users or employees with other access needs.
Whatever you need to do, make sure you put what you’ve learnt into practice, start to consistently promote disability awareness and ensure disability rights are understood throughout your organisation.
The Future of Disability Awareness at Work
Moving forward, it is absolutely vital that businesses are doing everything in their power to support more diversity in their workplaces. From providing equal opportunities to employee training and education, there are a number of ways businesses can get on board with this idea.
As we look past 2022, statistics predict that the number of people with disabilities in employment will continue to rise. Latest figures show the number of disabled people in employment has increased by 1.3 million since 2017, already delivering on a government goal to see one million more in work by 2027.
With this in mind, it’s clear that businesses need to start preparing now for the future of disability in the workplace, ensuring they are supporting their employees and are able to provide an inclusive environment for all.
Looking For Expert Disability Awareness Training?
At Thriiver, we specialise in providing businesses with expert disability awareness training.
Our experienced team can help to educate your employees on a variety of topics, from understanding different types of disabilities to identifying and preventing potential workplace hazards.
We understand that every business is different, which is why we offer bespoke training packages that are designed specifically for your organisation. With a number of other training courses and services available including Mental Health At Work Training and Neurodiversity Training, plus a range of assistive technologies that can support employees with disabilities, we’ve got you covered.
