Disability Inclusion Training for the Workplace

Disability inclusion in the workplace

Disability inclusion is a critical part of any business.

Employees with disabilities make up a large percentage of the workforce. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four adults in the United States has a disability.

That includes invisible disabilities as well as visible ones. Many employees have disabilities, whether or not they’ve disclosed those disabilities at work.

Without disability inclusion, your business isn’t doing all it can to support its current employees. And if your company isn't proactive about disability inclusion in the hiring process, you may be losing out on top candidates.

Virtual Live Training

Virtual live trainings (VLTs) from Understood help companies build awareness and offer simple tips employees, managers, and HR and DEI leaders can use to create a more inclusive workplace and support not only employees with disabilities, but all employees.

Through dialogue and interactive activities, our expert facilitators help guide staff, managers, and leaders in building their knowledge about disability awareness, recognizing bias and stigma, using inclusive language and behavior, and leveraging tools that promote inclusion. Tools and resources are also provided for learners to use on their own time. 

Trainings are offered as stand-alone, facilitated events or as part of a series. Or, you can choose a “blended” experience where learners participate in self-led video learning through a learning management system (LMS) in combination with a VLT. Suggested pairings are provided for each training. All trainings are fully accessible, with live closed captions, transcripts provided for any embedded videos, and options to participate in the way that works best for each learner.

To learn more, email our Partnerships team at partnerships@understood.org.

Available Trainings

Our disability inclusion experts

James Emmett, MS 

is the lead workplace strategist for Understood, supporting our efforts to create more inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities.

James Emmett is the lead workplace strategist for Understood, supporting our efforts to create more inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities. James is one of the most recognized experts in the field of disability inclusion, having helped plan and execute initiatives that have resulted in over 80,000 jobs for people with disabilities. He has worked on many of the most visible disability inclusion initiatives, with companies like Walgreens, Best Buy, Office Depot/Max, PepsiCo, and Mercy Health.

James has received numerous awards for his innovative approach to company-owned disability inclusion. His vision is to forever change the business and disability communities by helping companies of all sizes and industries create best-in-class disability inclusion initiatives.

Claire Odom, LMSW 

is a disability inclusion advocate who helps create excellent places for people with disabilities to work.

Claire Odom is a disability inclusion advocate who has spent more than a decade helping individuals and organizations of all sizes create excellent places for people with disabilities to work. She is also a licensed psychotherapist who provides mental health care to children, teens, and adults, with a focus on supporting neurodivergence in school and at work.

Jamie Studenroth 

is an advocate for disability justice in the workplace and beyond.

Jamie Studenroth is an advocate for disability justice in the workplace and beyond. She has supported people with disabilities in settings such as schools, camps, nonprofits, and is a former job coach for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In her role with Understood, she leads our assessment and action plan, working with companies to identify and improve practices and processes to make their workplaces more inclusive for people with disabilities.

In addition to facilitating training, our disability inclusion experts are available for conferences, speaking engagements, and trainings.

For more information, contact us at partnerships@understood.org 

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