30-Second Employer Training Series

1. Okay, I’ve hired a person with a disability. Now what? 30-Second Employer Training Series This training series is a tool kit for employers to understand why it makes good business sense to hire and retain individuals with disabilities. Click here to begin: Training series originally developed by NDI Consulting Inc., national technical assistance provider to the Disability Program Navigator initiative. Customized by the Maryland Department of Disabilities through Medicaid Infrastructure Grant funding from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare CFDA 93.768.

2. Okay, I’ve hired a person with a disability. Now what? Include disability information in your new employee orientation and other diversity training efforts Conduct an audit of your facility to identify accessible features and areas in need of accessibility improvements Provide your new employee with a disability reasonable accommodations and training and advancement opportunities All of the Above

3. Close, Try Again… Businesses should educate all staff on disability issues – during new staff orientation and ongoing diversity training programs. You should also provide continuing information on disability issues and legislation. But there’s more! Guess again!

4. Almost… One strategy for creating barrier-free employment is creating a physically accessible work environment. Utilize tools to conduct a brief facility audit to ensure you have accessible facilities and services, including accessible parking, routes, entrances, and work areas. This is only one strategy though. Please try again!

5. Close, but there is more! As required by the ADA, employers must reasonably accommodate qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. This includes ensuring that employees with disabilities can participate in employer-sponsored training events and have procedures in place to promote qualified employees with disabilities to management & supervisory positions. But there are other strategies too! Please Try Again!

6. CORRECT! • There are many strategies for successfully employing people with disabilities that increase workplace integration, promote productivity and efficiency for your new employee, improve employee morale, and encourage overall business success. These include staff training on disability issues, accessible facilities, providing accommodations, training, and advancement opportunities for your new employee, and utilizing federal tax incentive programs. • Businesses should educate all staff on disability issues – during new staff orientation and ongoing diversity training programs. • Utilize tools to conduct a brief facility audit to ensure you have accessible facilities and services, including accessible parking, routes, entrances, and work areas. • Ensure that employees with disabilities can participate in employer-sponsored training events and have procedures in place to promote qualified employees with disabilities to management & supervisory positions. Click here for resources and further information:

7. Resources Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Disability Employment Resource Page For more information about practical business strategies for employing people with disabilities, read the U.S. Department of Education’s Disability Employment 101. _______________________________________________________________ For resources in Maryland, visit the Resources page of www.mdworkmatters.org. Maryland Department of Disabilities Fact Sheets: How can I get resources for reasonable accommodation requests? Need Help Accommodating Employees and Customers with Disabilities? Quick Tips: Job Seekers & Employees with Disabilities The Benefits of Allowing Employees to Telework Still have questions? Click here.

8. Join Maryland’s Work Matters Business Partnership, a network of innovative, socially responsible businesses focused on profitability and productivity. employer@mdod.state.md.us (410) 767-3660