Accommodation is typically not complicated nor expensive

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). To help spread awareness, CBC Calgary is highlighting stories from self-advocates and inclusive employers. Learn more at cbc.ca/mycalgary. 

This is an email interview with Chantelle Robinson, who is the human resources manager at the Calgary Winter Club. She shares her experience overcoming some of the fears, assumptions and biases of hiring people with disabilities.

Why is it important to hire people with disabilities?

The most difficult part of hiring people with disabilities was our personal inability to understand how and where to start  — we had to overcome fear, assumptions and biases about disabilities. 

When we hear the name of any disability, we assume to worst version of it. Cerebral palsy can be severe. However, many people with cerebral palsy live very productive lives with few or without limitations. Blindness does not necessarily mean the complete inability to see. People tend to focus on what people with disabilities cannot do versus what they can do. We needed to consciously shift our thinking to focus on opportunities.

People tend to focus on what people with disabilities cannot do versus what they can do. We needed to consciously shift our thinking to focus on opportunities.- Chantelle Robinson

We worked with Prospect to do an audit of our policies and an employee survey to help us see our unknown barriers. There was no cost to us. 

What became obvious was some of the requirements we had in our job descriptions. For example, requiring a high school diploma for a entry level position is an unnecessary barrier, but it is so common in typical job postings.

What benefits have you seen by hiring people with disabilities? 

Having a diverse workforce builds empathy, community and respect for others. We support each other's successes and goals and have a better understanding of what community really means. 

We have and continue to see our employees grow as people when we have all abilities represented in our workforce.

What is required as an employer to accommodate hiring people with disabilities?

Drop all your assumptions. Accommodation is typically not complicated nor expensive. There are many agencies out there to assist employers as well. Assess your policies and culture to see if there are hidden barriers to those with disabilities and make changes proactively.

Drop all your assumptions. Accommodation is typically not complicated nor expensive.- Chantelle Robinson

Sometimes, new employees do not identify any disabilities or accommodations required through the interview process. However, when we learn what we can do to accommodate, it is generally inexpensive and simple, or sometimes we need to be creative. 

For example, we had an employee with limited use of both arms. We were able to do some job carving — exchanging duties with another position — to create a role that worked for everyone. In another instance, we had a new employee's support person shadow them for the first few weeks of working to get trained and familiar with the workspace. We've also had agencies come in to do workplace training with existing staff to understand how to support others in the workplace.

Regardless of abilities, I believe employers should ask employees regularly if they have what they need to be successful in their role, since things may change and a different accommodation may be more useful.