20 ways to make your company disabled-friendly

National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People

  1. Have a positive attitude towards people with disabilities and follow non-discriminatory employment practices
  2. Reserve a percentage of jobs at all appropriate levels for disabled people
  3. Include disability in the company’s mission statement
  4. Various departments [HRD, Finance, R and D, Administration etc.] should have clear-cut objectives to support disabled people
  5. If an employee becomes handicapped,keep him/her on without reduction of rank
  6. Be accessible: barier-free buildings, ramps, clear signage,adapted toilets, Braille symbols and auditory signals in lifts etc.
  7. Provide appropriate aids, technology and attendants to support disabled employees in the workplace
  8. Give certain extra benefits to people with disabilities or parents with disabled children: provide transport to work, special leave rights, additional medical allowance, etc.
  9. Don’t deny promotions to disabled people because of their disabilities
  10. Provide a safe working environment to prevent health hazards and accidents
  11. Conduct regular orientation programmes for all staff to encourage positive relationships beetween disabled and non-disabled employees
  12. Keep the latest information pertaining to disability in the library
  13. Provide the opportunity for skills development training for disabled people
  14. Provide credit and support to persons with disabilities and promote self-employment
  15. Be a marketing outlet for products made by disabled people or disability non-governmental organizations [NGO’S]
  16. Sub-contract and out-source activities to people with disabilities
  17. Participate in awareness campaigns to sensitize the public
  18. Be a role model to educate and motivate other employers to follow suit
  19. Provide consultancy services to disability NGO’S in the area of production, management, marketing and entrepreneurial skills
  20. Fund, sponsor or donate to disability NGO’S. Support the government to establish and maintain support for disabled people

The Indian Express, Mumbai NewslineDecember 4, 2003 Home