Chicago Politics

National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Improving Inclusivity and Accessibility

Description

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we highlight the vibrant contributions of Chicago’s Disability Employee Resource Group, Disability Forward CHI, showcasing how they drive inclusivity, empower employees, and strengthen community ties across the city. Fill out the ERG Participation Form here: https://chi.gov/ERG-Employee-Participation-Form And learn more at https://chi.gov/MOPD-Home

Transcript

0:00 Hello, Chicago. It's Mayor Brandon Johnson. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. And here in the city of Chicago, we are proud to celebrate our inclusive and diverse workplaces. I'm Commissioner of Rachel Oliver in the city of Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. And I'm so proud to be the executive sponsor for our disability, if you're a vicious group, which is called Disability Forward and Jai.

0:31 That's exactly what we're doing that we make the city of Chicago forward by promoting and creating a space for employees with disabilities to come together. Our employee business group is made up on people from at least seven or eight different departments and we continue to expand that number. Disability awareness training in the workplace allows for better normalization and integration, of the fact that people have support needs and that we're all different. It allows for us to retain talent and to have better access to talent in hiring.

1:06 It's so important that employees have a space to come together and brainstorm ways to make our workspaces and processes more accessible and inclusive. And I am so happy that we have that within our employee resource group. It's really fulfilling to engage in such a supportive and forward-thinking environment. I feel like I'm growing personally and professionally, and I'm proud to be a part of this amazing organization. We believe we'll be able to bring the whole self to work, and that includes disability, identity.

1:38 I myself have a disability. I'm profoundly deaf, and I'm very proud of my identity. And we believe we'll be able to honor and celebrate all of our identities at work. My lived experiences as an individual with a disability is an asset, and I am better at my job because of it. There are visible disabilities, but there are also invisible disabilities. And being able to bring your whole self to the workplace, you can represent your community.

2:08 As someone who has navigated both personal and professional challenges related to my disability, I've firsthand seen how important it is to have a workplace that understands, supports, and empowers people like me. People with disabilities often have unique perspectives and insights that can lead to more exclusive policies and services, ultimately benefiting the entire community. As an ally to the disability community, I am a proud member of Disability Forward Shy. Here, employees can come to share ideas, experiences, and resources while working toward

2:45 the common goal of increasing inclusivity and accessibility for all City of Chicago employees. Disability Forward Shy has made it a priority to bridge the gap between the needs of employees with disabilities, and the systems that are in place. But this is not just about policies. It is about creating a space where we are truly seen, heard, and included. I am so proud of all of our members who have come together to create our very first disability employee resource group here in the city of Chicago, and so we honor the experiences of

3:20 employees with disabilities everywhere throughout our entire city, if right here in the city of Chicago government. In Chicago, we believe that accessibility is a shared responsibility. Whether you're an employee with a disability or an ally, you have the power to make a difference. I encourage city employees to join Disability Forward Shy and help us create workplaces where we support one another and every single one of us can succeed.

3:50 Thank you.

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