Telltale Signs of Inclusion

Summary:
When do you know a work group is accepting a new employee who happens to have a disability? As an executive, manager or supervisor, look for (and set the stage for) these telltale signs of inclusion.

Focus on Expertise

Concentration on Customer Service

Inclusion in Social Events

Inclusion in Job Promotions

Respect for Individuals

Value in Privacy

Value in Learning


Focus on Expertise

More than a dozen individuals on eSight's "Swimming in the Mainstream" (SiM) blog began logging specific incidents in their careers which indicated, to them, that their co-workers were including them as full participants on the job.

You can review their complete discussion on the SiM blog, but I've selected some snippets from their conversation to highlight in this article.

I believe these incidents reveal to employers, such as yourself, the benchmarks by which you can measure the effectiveness of your inclusion efforts as well as the savvy shown by your employees who happen to have a disability.

The SiM blog conversation brought forward these six benchmarks of inclusion/acceptance:

• Focus on Customer Service
  
  
• Inclusion in Social Events
  
  
• Inclusion in Job Promotions
  
  
• Respect for Individuals
  
  
• Value in Privacy
  
  
• Value in Learning
  
  

Be sure to view the offering statements of each of these participants. Also read Darrell's resume.

And now let's gain examples of each benchmark by eavesdropping on some of their conversation.


Concentration on Customer Service

Laura:

"My experience has been that people 'forget' you are blind once they know you. Not that they try to forget because it is a bad thing, but it just genuinely isn't one of the top things they think of when they think of you. They think, 'Wow, she knows about computers; I can ask her my techie question...'"

Moses:

"...(Many of my colleagues) depend on my expertise and would always call me, even if they are out of the office at the time, just to check with me on how to solve sticky situations..."

Darrell:

"One of the ways I know I am accepted is that some of my colleagues refer to me as 'The Oracle' because I have excelled in initial and ongoing job training classes and I frequently provide technical assistance to others on the various accounts we serve..."

Inclusion in Social Events

Darrell:

"Another illustration of how I am accepted by others in the workplace is that I am fully included in the fun activities we conduct from time to time.

"Today is an excellent example. We're having a sort of tailgate party to celebrate the upcoming Super Bowl game. One of the activities was a Ping Pong tournament. I was able to participate, thanks to some interesting modifications to the game. When I played, I had help from a co-worker to guide my hand to the ball. I also served the ball several times, mostly all on my own.

"I actually won, 22 to 18! Fun was had by all! Since I had never before played Ping Pong, I enjoyed this new experience."

Moses:

"I very often dine with (colleagues), party with them and even tour with them, and this is a clear sign that I have been accepted as one of the team."

Inclusion in Job Promotions

Moses:

"...Though I am visually impaired, I have received several promotions, the first job being a telephoneist and finally ended up as an Administration Manager. Receiving such promotions, just like the sighted is a clear sign that I was accepted..."

Respect for Individuals

"...There are some people who will accept you for who you are. There are some people who never will. There are some people who just don't really care except (about) how it all effects them. I have been pretty well accepted on most jobs that I've held. I am blind, but that doesn't define who I am. It is only a part of who I am. If I'm willing to always do the best job I can, treat people the way I'd like to be treated, and expect to be treated in the same manner, most of the time that's the way it goes..."

Value in Privacy

Carrie:

"...We all need to have a bit of privacy, and I do not believe our lives need to be open books in order to gain acceptance in the workplace.

"If people are truly interested rather than being voyeurs, then I refer them to places where they can read more on their own. This theme in current society of 'telling all' is very disturbing to me.

"I shall never forget when one of the managers working with me stood up in a meeting and asked everyone if they had any questions about (a person's) disability. First of all, it assumes all in the room are focused on the subject. Second, (it assumes that), if they have questions, they are going to ask them in front of everyone, and, most important, it assumes people have the language and vocabulary to talk about disability -- which frequently they don't."

Nan:

"...I can't say I actually draw a line between my private and public life when it comes to my disability. I am an educator of sorts and use my own experience to teach about blindness.

"I do draw the line, though, when it comes to appropriate behavior -- whether or not related to my disability. There are off-limit topics, but they would be off limit if I was not disabled also..."

Value in Learning

Lauren:

"One incident on one former job ... did show me that upper staff in my particular area were wanting to help bring about acceptance... They asked me to write a memo which would be sent to all workers, explaining blindness, ... how it is for me ... (and) ways to help others feel less frightened about me and my disabilities. The fact that they allowed me to write this memo was really remarkable at the time..."

But ... "the idea of one incident showing we've been accepted at the workplace might be somewhat simplistic, idealistic and, though a good stepping-stone, just not the whole picture."

One closing thought: If I were an employer, I would want people such as those featured in this discussion in my work group because they are mature and authentic -- qualities needed to effectively serve customers in today's competitive marketplace.

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Made possible by a grant from the American Express Foundation.

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