Building an Inclusive Workplace
October 28, 2019
Demystifying Employment for People with Disabilities - pdf - Dr. Laura Owens, Ph.D., CESP, President Transcen, Inc. - Career and Workforce Development
Businesses need employees with the ability to adapt to different situations and environments and individuals with disabilities, more than any other group, have to be resourceful to get through daily situations. In the workplace, individuals with disabilities can bring this innovative thinking, unique ideas and varied approaches to working through business issues that lead to business success. Research shows that customers support businesses that employ individuals with disabilities and that it is a “win-win” for everyone. However, while we know that hiring individuals with disabilities is good for business, not all employers know how to effectively recruit, retain, and advance individuals with disabilities. This presentation will provide strategies and examples of successful (and creative) employment strategies by business as they build an inclusive workforce.
Presenter: Laura Owens, Ph.D., CESP
Laura, the President of TransCen, has over 30 years of experience, with a strong background as a national leader in the disability employment field. Laura is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Exceptional Education Department where she teaches courses focusing on high school inclusion and transition from school to work. She is also the founder and President of Creative Employment Opportunities, Inc. (CEO), in Milwaukee, which she founded in 1991. Prior to joining TransCen, Laura served as the Executive Director of APSE (the Association of People Supporting Employment First), a national organization focusing on the advancement of integrated employment for citizens with disabilities. She is an internationally known speaker having presented to businesses, organizations, schools, and at conferences in Ireland, Croatia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Chile, and Portugal.
A woman with seemingly limitless energy, Laura is passionate about her work and loves helping individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain employment. Working with individuals with disabilities is what she enjoys the most-and then she eager to support others in learning how to help individuals with disabilities pursue their dreams - from teachers to employment consultants to employers.
Videos
The two videos with captions of this lecture are "Neurodiversity 5a Captions.mov" and
"neurodiversity 5b captions.mov" in the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1varhJDkdqE-XNy79MW-iejvCmf8XgHkK
Photos from Building an Inclusive Workplace,
