Articles

Message From the President

Focus Forward 2020: Lead with Passion, Serve with Purpose

Are you ensuring inclusive recruitment of and accessibility to those with disabilities?
As October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I hope you will utilize resources available to you to assist you in your outreach and efforts to create opportunities, recruit, hire and promote opportunities to employ those with disabilities, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

There are many presumptions/misconceptions about people with a disability (visible or invisible) in the workplace. Hiring people with disabilities, benefits not only those with disabilities, but is beneficial to the business as well. Click here to learn more about finding candidates with disabilities.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is another leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues, and accommodations by disability, and limitation. This information helps employers and individuals determine effective accommodations and to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Recognizing the importance of this month, SHRM St. Louis partnered with Starkloff Disability Institute for their October 2020 virtual conference. SHRM St. Louis members were invited to attend the programming free of charge. We remain grateful for Starkloff’s continued commitment to advancing opportunities for people with disabilities in our community.

Warmest Regards,
Mary Lou Smith, PHR, SHRM-CP
2020 President