Disability ERG: 101 The Basics

Alan Hejl

Spark Access

Founder & Lead Consultant

SPARKACCESS.IO

Access Check

Do you need any accommodations to fully participate in this meeting?

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Examples:

• Physical Access in the room and building
• Slow down/speed up speech
• Slide mailout
• Direct visibility of speaker
• Detailed agenda/check-in throughout presentation
• Live Captions (CART)
• American Sign Language (need 72 hours in advance to provide)

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Agenda

• Welcome & Introduction
• NDEAM
• Disability Fundamentals
• Disability ERG Foundations
• Q&A

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Spark Access is Built on Lived Experience

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ALAN HEJL

Disability Advocacy & Lived Experience

Self: Chronic Nerve Pain, ADHD, Running Injuries

Partner: SCI & Manual Wheelchair User

Accessibility Expertise

Spark Access is a Disability Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE)

CPACC, International Assoc. of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)

UofM Disability Inclusion and Accessible Design Certificate

Industry Experience

Spark Access Founder, Accessibility Consulting

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Built Accessibility Center of Excellence @ General Motors &�Co-President of GM Able ERG

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5G/V2X Autonomous & Connected Vehicles @ Ford Motor Company &

Member of FEDA ERG

Government & Civic Volunteer

Detroit Disability Power

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Michigan Disability

Rights Coalition

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Ferndale Accessibility & Inclusion Advisory Commission

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Spark Access Mission:

Be a catalyst for accessibility and disability inclusion in the mobility industry to build a more inclusive future and sense of belonging for people with disabilities.

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NDEAM (National Disability Employment Awareness Month)

• NDEAM celebrates annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce.

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• Started in 1945 and supported by bipartisan presidents.

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• Administered by ODEP (Office of Disability Employment Policy) since 2001.

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• 2025 Theme:

“Celebrating Value and Talent”

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• More info

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Disability Employment FactSheet

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The unemployment rate among those with disabilities in 2024 was 7.5 %, versus 3.8 % for people without disabilities

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Source:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Disability, on average, is associated with lower earnings, fewer advancement opportunities, and greater job insecurity

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Source:

Deloitte Disability Inclusion at Work

Among employed individuals, those with disabilities are less likely to be in management, professional, and related occupations (37.9 %) compared with persons without disabilities (44.1 %).

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Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Disability Fundamentals

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The Inaccessibility Cycle

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People with Disabilities (PwD) are a Significant Underserved Community

• 27 % of the US Population (CDC)
• 63+ million PwD

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• 22.9 % of Michiganders (2020 Census)
• 2.3 Million PwD

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• 17% of the Global Population (WHO)
• 1.3+ Billion PwD

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• Aging Population Doubling
• Age 60+ ; 12% in 2020 to 22% of 2050 (WHO)

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• +5.6% Annual Temporary Disabilities in US

Disability comes in many forms:

Physical / Mobility

D/deaf & Hard of Hearing

Blind & Low Vision

Cognitive and Emotional Disabilities

Speech Disabilities

When you focus on Disability Inclusion (Accenture, 2023):�

• 1.6 X Higher Revenue
• 2.6 X Net Income
• 2X Shareholder Return

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Words Matter for Inclusion

• Disability: “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” – United Nations, CRPD

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• Accessibility: “The term “accessibility” means the design, construction, development, and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs, and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use them.” – POTUS, DEIA Announcement 2021

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• Ableism: “Ableism is attitudes, actions, and circumstances that devalue people because they are disabled or perceived as having a disability.” – Emily Ladau, Demystifying Disability

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• Intersectionality: “A metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that often are not understood among conventional ways of thinking.“ – Kimberlé Crenshaw

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Disability ERG Experience

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Disability ERG 101

• Disability ERG’s should be welcoming to:
• People with disabilities
• Caregivers
• Allies

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• Leadership should be led by PwD

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• Events should be accessible and lead by example for inclusion.
• (Event Accommodations should not be the financial burden of the ERG to maintain*)

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• Find Your Executive Champion who is a PwD, Caregiver, or strong ally tied to a Business Domain that is close to accessibility.

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• Structure a Business Council to drive Change in Policies and Action that leverages ERG feedback

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Key Activities of a Disability ERG

Routine ERG Activities:

• Networking
• Volunteering
• Learning and Development
• Skills and Leadership Development
• Storytelling
• Intersectional Events with other ERG’s

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Business Impacts:

• Health and Benefits Feedback
• Promote EAP Services
• Universal Design Workshops
• Emergency Preparedness
• Inclusive Event Guidelines
• Workplace Improvement
• Accommodations Review

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Successful Initiatives:

• Neurodiversity Groups
• Defining Non-Apparent Disabilities
• Disability Self-ID Campaigns
• Caregiver Support Resources
• Mental Health Resources
• Build Global ERG Chapters

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Annual Disability Inclusion Milestones

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April Autism Acceptance Month

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May Global Accessibility Action/Awareness Day

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July Disability Pride Month

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October Disability Employment Awareness Month

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Dec 3rd International Day for Persons with Disabilities��Many Many More….

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Many Many More….

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Supporting the Business

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Disability Inclusion & Accessibility can only succeed by including people with disabilities

• “Nothing About Us, Without Us”: Include People with Disabilities

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• Seek disability-owned businesses to work with for training and disability-related services
• Look for the DOBE Certification

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• Don’t have budget?
• Start planning now!
• Look to your community and local organizations
• Local CIL’s
• State Vocational Rehabilitation
• EARN (Employer Assistance Resource Network)

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Thank You!��

alan@sparkaccess.io

231.360.3291

Spark Access

Sparkaccess.io

Detroit & Ferndale, Michigan, USA

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Connect with Spark Access for other training and education:

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• Disability ERG Support
• Disability Pride Education
• Inclusive Design & Universal Design
• Accessibility Innovation
• Facilities Review and Assessments
• Technical fields of accessible mobility (autonomous vehicles, EV Charging infrastructure, and urban planning)

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