Point of view

One major problem with past disability presentations to professional is the focus. Disability as a topic is not a glamorous topic and can ignite fear and defensiveness in people. Since the goal is to attract employers (the decision- makers) not vocational agencies change the semantics. The entire presentation should be from a business point of view. Rather than "Welcoming Disabled Employees into the Workplace" which discusses job placement and job coaching services agencies offer, appeal to the employer using their terminology. So now we have recruitment, retention, and return on investment- their wheelhouse. Add statistics to justify the depth of the problem and the solution. Statistics and testimonials to justify hiring people with disabilities is important. Teach employers how to build natural supports in the workplace. For example, use another employee to guide the new employee. That as a normal business process anyway, it's called a mentorship. Form a work group to explain some ways to discuss concerns and integrate the person with the challenge into the work environment. It's not rocket science and it has proven effectiveness. It just needs to be a more common practice.