I am so happy to have Becky Kekula on this episode. She serves as the disability equality index director for Disability:IN. She’s responsible for managing the overall DEI program. She’s very passionate about making sure disability and inclusion conversations are happening in schools and in the workplace. She’s worked in a number of industries, and she’s also a prolific public speaker. In our conversation, she shares the importance of being intentional with disability inclusion as an organization, how to create open communication with candidates for a position that may need accommodation, and overcoming the assumption that accommodation costs too much money for an organization.

Topics in this episode

• The struggle of entering the workforce as a candidate with a disability
• The difference it makes to provide constructive feedback for interviewees
• There are systems in place that don’t let people in the door
• How to show your willingness to learn and draw the disability community to you:
  • Include disability in diversity and inclusion statements
  • Making it known you’re willing to make accommodations, starting from the job application on your website
  • You want to choose the best candidate, and make sure you’re giving everyone a chance to interview that has the qualifications
• Companies that do well in disability inclusion do well financially. It is good for business.
• If you are behind in the disability and DEI space, don’t say that you need to become more accessible in order to invite them into the workplace. Candidates and employees with disabilities can be the solution that can help you get better.
• The importance of website accessibility

Contact info

• Disability:IN https://disabilityin.org/who-we-are/about/
• Becky’s Website: http://www.beckymotivates.com/
• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BeckyMotivates

I want to say thank you to Becky for all of the work she has done and continues to do really elevate the conversation. A lot of the fear goes away when people have someone they feel like they can connect to. I am deeply grateful for Becky coming on Uplifting Impact and being that person here, and also for all the spaces she is in. There is a lot that people can contribute to the world if they escape the thing that they are fearful of and learn all about richness with others, and how we can relate more.