{"id":7315,"date":"2022-10-27T11:58:33","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T15:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/?p=7315"},"modified":"2023-12-11T10:48:33","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T15:48:33","slug":"remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><button id=\"listenButton1\" class=\"responsivevoice-button\" type=\"button\" value=\"Play\" title=\"ResponsiveVoice Tap to Start\/Stop Speech\"><span>&#128266; Listen to this article<\/span><\/button>\n        <script>\n            listenButton1.onclick = function(){\n                if(responsiveVoice.isPlaying()){\n                    responsiveVoice.cancel();\n                }else{\n                    responsiveVoice.speak(\"The global pandemic shifted what work looks like and where we do it. When remote work is an option available to all employees, everyone benefits, especially people with disabilities. Every October, the U.S. commemorates Disability Employment Awareness Month. This month \u201ccelebrates the contributions of America\u2019s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices.\u201d Remote work allows disabled employees to flourish in the workplace, specifically in relation to disability disclosure, access to care and accommodations, and increased productivity. Disabled workers aren\u2019t the only ones who tend to prefer remote work. Following six months of working remotely full-time during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, 50% of workers stated that they didn\u2019t intend to return to work without remote options. Disabled workers, though, are 14% more likely to leave a job when remote options are rescinded than nondisabled workers are. As remote work becomes normative among all workers, here are three ways working from home allows disabled employees to be more integrated into the workplace: Disability Disclosure If remote work is not a ready option, disabled employees like me must request that accommodation through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when necessary. As such, we must share basic information pertaining to our disabilities. Otherwise, we often do without support for our needs and bear the stress of hiding our identity. This emotional toll of concealing disabilities and other identities decreases employees\u2019 wellness and productivity.\u00a0 According to a recent survey by Accenture, \u201cemployees with disabilities fear that disclosing will lead to outcomes such as retaliation, slower progression, and less meaningful roles.\u201d Even in the best circumstances, disability disclosure can be complicated emotionally. Conversely, employees are given a greater sense of agency when they are allowed to disclose their disability status when and if they choose.\u00a0 Alex in Portland, Oregon, wasn\u2019t disabled when she began working remotely in 2020. However, her medical issues and the complex process of being diagnosed with her condition would have prevented her from working in person. She was able to keep her job, and today, because she has difficulty commuting and sitting upright, she continues to work remotely.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Shanna from Olathe, Kansas, who relies on reading lips, had to disclose her hearing loss more often when masks became required. Working remotely now for reasons unrelated to disability, her \u201cstress has gone way down,\u201d she says. Because of the accommodations inherent in remote work \u2013 minimal travel time, ability to use preferred and varied seating, availability of food preparation in an allergen-free environment, and breaks for bathroom use without drawing attention to themselves \u2013 many disabled workers don\u2019t have to ask for the accommodations they might require otherwise. As it is, only one in four disabled employees disclose their needs to Human Resources or their direct supervisor, decreasing to one in five at the C-suite level.\u00a0 At the same time, you shouldn\u2019t assume that all employees with disabilities prefer remote work. Ideally, a remote schedule is a choice, with the employee having the agency to consider which available options are best for them and the freedom to adjust their choices as circumstances require. Access to Care and Accommodations Becky, in Madison, Wisconsin, isn\u2019t disabled herself, but her children have varying levels of disability. \u201cThey are healthier than they\u2019re ever been because of the flexibility my remote work role offers me,\u201d she says. Mary Ellen, in Sacramento, California, is caring for her partner after a major surgery and enjoys the flexibility inherent in working from home. Instead of having to take unpaid time off, she\u2019s able to continue in her job with minimal leave while picking up prescriptions and providing other caregiving tasks. Akilah, in Bradenton, Florida, is better able to care for themself while working at home, because their medical condition requires them to lie flat for part of each working day. They\u2019ve arranged a slanted desk that can adjust over their body so they can rest while working, something that would be impossible in most work spaces.\u00a0 \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be able to work if I couldn\u2019t do it from my bed,\u201d says Akilah, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS). Increased Productivity In research for the book Remote, Inc., authors Alexandra Samuel and Robert Pozen found that more than half of remote employees reported increased productivity while working out of the office than in person.\u00a0 Casey, in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, found that to be true. She says working at home allows her to remain in an environment with a controlled temperature, familiar muted sounds, low lighting, and a variety of places to sit or stand. \u201cThe flexibility with hours makes it possible to be a better employee,\u201d she says. Jason, in Greensboro, North Carolina, finds that working from home allows him to avoid calling in sick. \u201cWhen my blood sugar drops or is high, I can still clock in to work, whereas if I had to commute to work, my driving would be limited based on blood sugar levels causing late arrival or absences,\u201d he says. \u201cAlso, as someone with autism, face-to-face communication is exhausting for me. Being able to type messages to my leaders rather than sit face-to-face is helpful.\u201d\u00a0 When remote work is allowed for all workers, regardless of disability, the workplace becomes more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. When allowed, a significant majority of Black workers prefer hybrid or remote work situations, for example. No current research breaks this out into preferences among disabled Black people, because more studies are needed to fully explore the intersection of disability and other identity areas.\u00a0 Ultimately, remote work as an option to all workers allows organizations to include disabled workers, which benefits companies and workers with disabilities. As you hire or manage the work of people like Alex, Shanna, Casey, Akilah, and Jason, you won\u2019t know the exact ways in which working remotely accommodates their disabilities or simply their preferences, but the Alexes, Shannas, Caseys, Akilahs, and Jasons of your workplace know.\u00a0 As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment. For other guidance in fully including employees with disabilities, watch Leveling Up Your Workforce Through Disability Inclusion, a webinar to help you navigate other issues related to disability and work. Shannon Dingle is a writer, speaker, and inclusion consultant in Raleigh, North Carolina. She cares deeply about the full belonging of disabled people in all aspects of life. Her memoir Living Brave is a personal account of resilience and hope, and she is working on a primer on disability and ableism as her second book.\", \"US English Male\");\n                }\n            };\n        <\/script>\n    <\/br><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The global pandemic shifted what work looks like and where we do it. When remote work is an option available to all employees, everyone benefits, especially people with disabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every October, the U.S. commemorates <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/odep\/initiatives\/ndeam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disability Employment Awareness Month<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This month \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">celebrates the contributions of America\u2019s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices.\u201d Remote work allows disabled employees to flourish in the workplace, specifically in relation to disability disclosure, access to care and accommodations, and increased productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disabled workers aren\u2019t the only ones who tend to prefer remote work. Following six months of working remotely full-time during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, 50% of workers stated that<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resources.owllabs.com\/hubfs\/website\/sorw\/2020\/owl-labs_sorw-2020_report-download_FINAL_07oct2020.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they didn\u2019t intend to return to work without remote options<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Disabled workers, though, are<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/capabilities\/people-and-organizational-performance\/our-insights\/hybrid-work-making-it-fit-with-your-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14% more likely to leave a job<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when remote options are rescinded than nondisabled workers are.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As remote work becomes normative among all workers, here are three ways working from home allows disabled employees to be more integrated into the workplace:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Disability Disclosure<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7316 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Young man with disabilities working on his stock market portfolio\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If remote work is not a ready option, disabled employees like me must request that accommodation through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when necessary. As such, we must share basic information pertaining to our disabilities. Otherwise, we often do without support for our needs and bear the stress of hiding our identity. This emotional toll of concealing disabilities and other identities<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/capabilities\/people-and-organizational-performance\/our-insights\/hybrid-work-making-it-fit-with-your-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">decreases employees\u2019 wellness and productivity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a recent survey by Accenture, \u201cemployees with disabilities<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accenture.com\/_acnmedia\/PDF-142\/Accenture-Enabling-Change-Getting-Equal-2020-Disability-Inclusion-Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> fear that disclosing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will lead to outcomes such as retaliation, slower progression, and less meaningful roles.\u201d Even in the best circumstances, disability disclosure can be complicated emotionally. Conversely, employees are given a greater sense of agency when they are allowed to disclose their disability status when and if they choose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alex in Portland, Oregon, wasn\u2019t disabled when she began working remotely in 2020. However, her medical issues and the complex process of being diagnosed with her condition would have prevented her from working in person. She was able to keep her job, and today, because she has difficulty commuting and sitting upright, she continues to work remotely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, Shanna from Olathe, Kansas, who relies on reading lips, had to disclose her hearing loss more often when masks became required. Working remotely now for reasons unrelated to disability, her \u201cstress has gone way down,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because of the accommodations inherent in remote work \u2013 minimal travel time, ability to use preferred and varied seating, availability of food preparation in an allergen-free environment, and breaks for bathroom use without drawing attention to themselves \u2013 many disabled workers don\u2019t have to ask for the accommodations they might require otherwise. As it is,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2021\/06\/make-it-safe-for-employees-to-disclose-their-disabilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">only one in four disabled employees disclose their needs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to Human Resources or their direct supervisor, decreasing to one in five at the C-suite level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, you shouldn\u2019t assume that all employees with disabilities prefer remote work. Ideally, a remote schedule is a choice, with the employee having the agency to consider which available options are best for them and the freedom to adjust their choices as circumstances require.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/library\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8876 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/NEW-TDM-Library-Display-Ad_Large-A-1024x341.png\" alt=\"TDM Library: your one-stop-shop for update, expert DEI Resources. Explore the platform with a free trial. Click here to learn more.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/NEW-TDM-Library-Display-Ad_Large-A-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/NEW-TDM-Library-Display-Ad_Large-A-600x200.png 600w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/NEW-TDM-Library-Display-Ad_Large-A-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/NEW-TDM-Library-Display-Ad_Large-A-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/NEW-TDM-Library-Display-Ad_Large-A.png 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/341;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Access to Care and Accommodations<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7317 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1217409099-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Employee working in bed, telecommuting\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1217409099-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1217409099-scaled-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1217409099-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1217409099-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1217409099-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1217409099-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Becky, in Madison, Wisconsin, isn\u2019t disabled herself, but her children have varying levels of disability. \u201cThey are healthier than they\u2019re ever been because of the flexibility my remote work role offers me,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mary Ellen, in Sacramento, California, is caring for her partner after a major surgery and enjoys the flexibility inherent in working from home. Instead of having to take unpaid time off, she\u2019s able to continue in her job with minimal leave while picking up prescriptions and providing other caregiving tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Akilah, in Bradenton, Florida, is better able to care for themself while working at home, because their medical condition requires them to lie flat for part of each working day. They\u2019ve arranged a slanted desk that can adjust over their body so they can rest while working, something that would be impossible in most work spaces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be able to work if I couldn\u2019t do it from my bed,\u201d says Akilah, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Increased Productivity<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7318 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-513396687-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Young man with infantile cerebral palsy caused by a complicated birth sitting in a multifunctional wheelchair, using a computer with a wireless headset, reaching out to touch the touch screen.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-513396687-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-513396687-scaled-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-513396687-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-513396687-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-513396687-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-513396687-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In research for the book <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remote, Inc., <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">authors Alexandra Samuel and Robert Pozen found that<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2021\/10\/dont-let-hybrid-work-set-back-your-dei-efforts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more than half of remote employees reported increased productivity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while working out of the office than in person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Casey, in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, found that to be true. She says working at home allows her to remain in an environment with a controlled temperature, familiar muted sounds, low lighting, and a variety of places to sit or stand. \u201cThe flexibility with hours makes it possible to be a better employee,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jason, in Greensboro, North Carolina, finds that working from home allows him to avoid calling in sick. \u201cWhen my blood sugar drops or is high, I can still clock in to work, whereas if I had to commute to work, my driving would be limited based on blood sugar levels causing late arrival or absences,\u201d he says. \u201cAlso, as someone with autism, face-to-face communication is exhausting for me. Being able to type messages to my leaders rather than sit face-to-face is helpful.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When remote work is allowed for all workers, regardless of disability, the workplace becomes more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. When allowed,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2021\/10\/dont-let-hybrid-work-set-back-your-dei-efforts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a significant majority of Black workers prefer hybrid or remote<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> work situations, for example. No current research breaks this out into preferences among disabled Black people, because more studies are needed to fully explore the intersection of disability and other identity areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultimately, remote work as an option to all workers allows organizations to include disabled workers, which benefits companies and workers with disabilities. As you hire or manage the work of people like Alex, Shanna, Casey, Akilah, and Jason, you won\u2019t know the exact ways in which working remotely accommodates their disabilities or simply their preferences, but the Alexes, Shannas, Caseys, Akilahs, and Jasons of your workplace know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For other guidance in fully including employees with disabilities, watch <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/leveling-up-your-workforce-through-disability-inclusion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leveling Up Your Workforce Through Disability Inclusion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a webinar to help you navigate other issues related to disability and work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/library\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-8041 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/TDM-Library-Footer-Ad-A-1024x85.png\" alt=\"Display ad for TDM Library. Text says &quot;Find more content like this in TDM Library. Start my free trial&quot;\" width=\"1024\" height=\"85\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/TDM-Library-Footer-Ad-A-1024x85.png 1024w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/TDM-Library-Footer-Ad-A-600x50.png 600w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/TDM-Library-Footer-Ad-A-300x25.png 300w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/TDM-Library-Footer-Ad-A-768x64.png 768w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/TDM-Library-Footer-Ad-A.png 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/85;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shannon Dingle is a writer, speaker, and inclusion consultant in Raleigh, North Carolina. She cares deeply about the full belonging of disabled people in all aspects of life. Her memoir <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Living Brave <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a personal account of resilience and hope, and she is working on a primer on disability and ableism as her second book.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The global pandemic shifted what work looks like and where we do it. When remote work is an option available to all employees, everyone benefits, especially people with disabilities. Every15<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,5],"tags":[86,108],"tdm_type":[92],"class_list":["post-7315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employee-experience-organizational-culture","category-blogs","tag-disability-accessability","tag-remote-hybrid-work","tdm_type-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses - The Diversity Movement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses - The Diversity Movement\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Diversity Movement\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thediversitymovement\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-10-27T15:58:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-12-11T15:48:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Walk West\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Walk West\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Walk West\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/person\/96226c18fc3fda99e138ea5726960e51\"},\"headline\":\"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-10-27T15:58:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-12-11T15:48:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/\"},\"wordCount\":1145,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Disability \/ Accessibility\",\"Remote\/Hybrid Work\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Employee Engagement &amp; Organizational Culture\",\"x Blogs\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/\",\"name\":\"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses - The Diversity Movement\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-10-27T15:58:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-12-11T15:48:33+00:00\",\"description\":\"As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707,\"caption\":\"Young man with disabilities working on his stock market portfolio\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Articles\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/type\/articles\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/\",\"name\":\"The Diversity Movement\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Diversity Movement\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Stack-Blue.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Stack-Blue.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":619,\"caption\":\"The Diversity Movement\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thediversitymovement\/\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thediversitymovement\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/thediversitymovement\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/person\/96226c18fc3fda99e138ea5726960e51\",\"name\":\"Walk West\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/098990f08f15560a82addd4bf4c3ec68a20487d4d17beade5a7e24775b385f86?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/098990f08f15560a82addd4bf4c3ec68a20487d4d17beade5a7e24775b385f86?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Walk West\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses - The Diversity Movement","description":"As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses - The Diversity Movement","og_description":"As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment.","og_url":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/","og_site_name":"The Diversity Movement","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thediversitymovement\/","article_published_time":"2022-10-27T15:58:33+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-12-11T15:48:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Walk West","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Walk West","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/"},"author":{"name":"Walk West","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/person\/96226c18fc3fda99e138ea5726960e51"},"headline":"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses","datePublished":"2022-10-27T15:58:33+00:00","dateModified":"2023-12-11T15:48:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/"},"wordCount":1145,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg","keywords":["Disability \/ Accessibility","Remote\/Hybrid Work"],"articleSection":["Employee Engagement &amp; Organizational Culture","x Blogs"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/","url":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/","name":"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses - The Diversity Movement","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2022-10-27T15:58:33+00:00","dateModified":"2023-12-11T15:48:33+00:00","description":"As we wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month, consider how remote work can change your business practices to fit the needs of disabled workers instead of requiring disabled workers to adapt to an inflexible environment.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iStock-1290205282-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707,"caption":"Young man with disabilities working on his stock market portfolio"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/remote-work-boosts-job-opportunities-disabled-employees-helps-businesses\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Articles","item":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/type\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Guest Blog: Remote Work Boosts Job Opportunities for Disabled Employees and Helps Businesses"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/","name":"The Diversity Movement","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#organization","name":"The Diversity Movement","url":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Stack-Blue.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Stack-Blue.jpg","width":1500,"height":619,"caption":"The Diversity Movement"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thediversitymovement\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thediversitymovement\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/thediversitymovement\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/person\/96226c18fc3fda99e138ea5726960e51","name":"Walk West","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/098990f08f15560a82addd4bf4c3ec68a20487d4d17beade5a7e24775b385f86?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/098990f08f15560a82addd4bf4c3ec68a20487d4d17beade5a7e24775b385f86?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Walk West"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7315"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8901,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7315\/revisions\/8901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7315"},{"taxonomy":"tdm_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tdm_type?post=7315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}