So you think you’re inclusive? Creating a genuinely disability inclusive workplace

With 1 in 3 of us impacted by disability, disability inclusion must be embedded throughout your organisation. This requires it to be ‘business as usual’ as opposed to something that is considered an ‘extra’ or an ‘add on’. However, disability is a huge topic, and it can be difficult to know where to start your journey of building a disability inclusive workplace.

This interactive webinar is designed to empower organisations to foster disability inclusion by addressing three critical areas: creating an inclusive workplace culture, enhancing recruitment practices through a disability lens, and effectively engaging with disabled students in early careers recruitment.

We will start by looking at how to create a genuinely inclusive workplace culture where employees feel empowered to be open about their disabilities and have equitable access to the support they require to thrive. We will then move on to look at inclusive recruitment; whilst no organization intentionally builds barriers into its recruitment processes, unintended obstacles often remain. This segment will include reviewing your end-to-end recruitment process through a disability lens in order to identify potential barriers at each stage. And finally, we will look at student recruitment. With an increasing number of disabled students graduating from universities, organisations must adapt their approaches to tap into this talent pool. As well as authentic engagement it will also require organisations to challenge their traditional assessment methods which often rely on rigid assessments, communication skills and cultural fit.

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Understand how to cultivate an inclusive culture that encourages openness and supports all employees.

• Be equipped to identify and address barriers in recruitment processes, ensuring fairness and accessibility.

• Learn actionable strategies to engage with disabled students, strengthening early careers recruitment and developing future leaders.

About the facilitator 

Helen Cooke, CEO of MyPlus, is a leading authority in disability employment, with specific expertise in student recruitment. She founded MyPlus with the vision of ensuring that disability is no barrier to career success.

Through MyPlus, Helen empowers organisations to build disability inclusive practices & recognise the value of hiring disabled talent; clients include bp, EY, J.P. Morgan, Linklaters, and the BBC.

Helen also established the MyPlus Students’ Club, an innovative platform providing disabled students with essential resources and confidence to successfully transition from education to employment. The website also profiles inclusive employers and connects them directly with this increasing talent pool.

Helen’s approach is shaped by her HR and recruitment background, along with lived experience as a wheelchair user. Helen began her career with Marks & Spencer and Mars before founding MyPlus in 2005. Listed on the SHAW TRUST Disability Power 100 and Cranfield’s Women to Watch, MyPlus is also a Valuable 500 member and a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader.