LiveKorp

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Our Mission

At LiveKorp, we strive to be inclusive, accessible, and supportive to individuals of all abilities.

Agenda

• Understanding Disabilities
• Legal Considerations
• Creating an Inclusive Work Environment
• Conclusion
• Resources

Disability Myths Debunked

Disability Myth #1

Disability is a tragedy.

Disability Myth #1

Disability is a tragedy.

People living with disabilities don't want pity; their lives are just as valuable as they would be without their disabilities.

Disability Myth #2

Disabled people are brave and inspirational.

Disability Myth #2

Disabled people are brave and inspirational.

People with disabilities can be brave or inspirational, but no more so than anyone else.

Disability Myth #3

Disabilities are rare.

Disability Myth #3

Disabilities are rare.

1 in 6 people live with or will develop a disability during their lifetime.

Disability Myth #4

All wheelchair users are paralyzed.

Disability Myth #4

All wheelchair users are paralyzed.

Using a chair, whether it be manual or a power chair, does not mean that a person cannot move their legs. Some people have limited use of their legs, due to issues such as difficulty bearing weight or lack of stamina.

Disability Myth #5

All who are legally blind have no vision.

Disability Myth #5

All who are legally blind have no vision.

In the U.S., anyone with central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in their better eye, with correction is considered legally blind. Just because someone may identify as blind does not mean that they have zero vision.

Disability Myth #6

All deaf or hard of hearing people can read lips.

Disability Myth #6

All deaf or hard of hearing people can read lips.

Lip reading is not completely reliable as a form of communication, and is therefore a skill that varies greatly among deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Disability Myth #7

Disability is apparent at first glance.

Disability Myth #7

Disability is apparent at first glance.

Even though some disabilities are immediately visible, disabilities can also be non-apparent, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder or Diabetes.

Disability Myth #8

Disabled individuals have very different lives from those without disabilities.

Disability Myth #8

Disabled individuals have very different lives from those without disabilities.

Although some aspects of life may look a bit different, people with disabilities lead normal lives. They work, raise families, travel, and have hobbies and special interests just like everyone else.

What is a disability?

A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, activities, and/or senses.

Causes of Disabilities

• Genetic disorders
• Chronic illness
• Serious injury
• Chronic pain

Types of Disabilities

Physical Disabilities

• Affect mobility, physical functioning, dexterity, or stamina

• Spinal cord injury, Cerebral Palsy, limb difference, Muscular Dystrophy, etc.

Cognitive Disabilities

• Affect memory, attention, communication, thinking, problem solving, and mood

• Dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), etc.

Sensory Disabilities

• Affect processing of any of the 5 senses

• Visual impairment, hearing impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), etc.

Challenges

• Time

• Environmental

• Lack of assistive tools

• Communication

• Misperception/discrimination

Legal Considerations

ADA Protections

• Non-discrimination

• Reasonable accommodations

• Accessible facilities

Non-Discrimination

• Hiring

• Promotions

• Job assignments

• Terminations

Scenario

Dominic has epilepsy and uses a service dog at all times. He applied for a promotion, and he does excellent work, but the boss doesn't know how it would look to have a dog sit in on important meetings. Instead, she promotes another member of Dominic's team with a slightly less impressive record.

Did Dominic experience discrimination in the promotion process? Discuss with your table.

Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for qualified employees with disabilities to enable them to perform essential job functions, unless doing so would pose an "undue hardship" on the employer.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable Accommodations

• Providing assistance or support services

• Modifications to workspaces, equipment, and/or policies

Scenario

Evelyn is a hearing-impaired member of the accounting staff. She has asked her team to provide captions on any videos and video calls, but some employees think that it takes too much valuable time to caption everything.

Does this situation qualify as undue hardship, or is it a reasonable accommodation? Discuss with your table.

Accessible Facilities

• Entrances

• Restrooms

• Parking spaces

Scenario

Aisha uses a wheelchair, and she parks in an accessible spot. However, Antonio from HR has a tendency to park over the line. Today he parked next to Aisha, and his car is taking up the hashed lines around her parking space.

Does this violate the right to accessible facilities? Discuss with your table.

• Listen to the experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities

• Modify communication based on the styles and needs of people with disabilities

• Learn and use accessibility functions such as alt text or color-coding

Creating an Inclusive Work Environment

Key Takeaways

• Disabilities can be physical, cognitive, or sensory, and are sometimes non-apparent

• ADA protections are non-discrimination, reasonable accommodations, and accessible facilities

• We strive to be inclusive, accessible, and supportive of all abilities

Resources