Unlocking potential: Best practices for an inclusive workplace for employees with disabilities

According to the WHO, approximately 16% of the world’s population- about 1.3 billion people- live with a disability. The Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) defines this as ‘having a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment that – in interaction with the environment – hinders one’s participation in society on an equal basis with others.’ Simply put, having a lasting condition that makes it harder to participate equally in a community. As the planet’s largest minority group, high relevance is attributed to creating an inclusive environment for this vulnerable population. People with disabilities are at risk of lower levels of employment, resulting in higher poverty rates. For these reasons, different organisations are expanding their efforts to promote the full integration of people with disabilities into society. For example, the CRPD successfully got 185 countries to work toward increasing the awareness of disability-inclusive employment by advocating for their rights within the work marketplace. These international efforts highlight the importance of building a supportive and empowering space where people with disabilities can economically and socially thrive.

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