QWE Practice Guideline: 440: Demonstrate the value of employees with disabilities

Target group: Any organization supporting and/or employing individuals with disabilities

Practice Description

Individuals with disabilities were included in the strategic planning process.

Resources Needed

Subject matter experts/trainers

• Trained meeting facilitators

Equipment

• Meeting space

Labor hours

• Time for staff to meet

Implementation

• Focus groups were conducted as part of the company’s strategic planning process
• Focus groups included employees, program participants, and external stakeholders with and without disabilities from each network location
• Groups usually consisted of 6-12 employees
• Facilitators were selected and assigned to each focus group
  • Facilitators followed a written script to ensure each focus group was given the same set of questions
• Questions were categorized as follows:
  • General
  • Services provided to individuals with disabilities
  • Employer of Choice (i.e., work culture)
• Answers from each focus group were submitted and the data was analyzed into a single report to be used at the strategic planning conference
• Action items from the focus group reports were identified at the strategic planning conference and communicated to the appropriate project managers

Outcomes

• 37 focus groups were held across multiple network locations
• 298 individuals participated in the focus groups: 147 program participants, 126 employees, and 25 external stakeholders
• Employee input was utilized to guide strategic planning for the agency creating employee buy-in

NPA: ServiceSource
Location: Alexandria, VA
Date Submitted: 2011
Website: https://www.servicesource.org/

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