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Q&A
DOHMH's efforts to improve workplace inclusion for people with disabilities
1:04:26
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157 sec
Deputy Commissioner Julie Friesen details DOHMH's initiatives to improve workplace inclusion for people with disabilities. She highlights several key efforts and their positive impacts on the agency's culture.
- Created a Director of Disability Access and Justice position
- Conducted in-person training sessions and workshops to raise awareness
- Launched an employee resource group for employees with disabilities and allies
- Observed increased comfort among employees in disclosing non-apparent disabilities
- Implemented ASL training for interested employees
- Noted a positive shift in agency culture towards disability inclusion and awareness
Linda Lee
1:04:26
Has DOHMH taken any specific action to improve workplace inclusion for people with disabilities and how clear are processes for requesting accommodations?
Julie Friesen
1:04:36
Yes, I'm actually very proud if I could just speak about this for a minute to say all of the work that we've been doing internally because this started, and thank you for your leadership in this, both of you and all members in this area because even before the local law passed, we actually created a position at the health department.
1:04:56
We created a position, a director of disability access and justice.
1:05:00
And this person who is amazing, who comes from the community and is leading this effort, has done a lot of work to raise awareness and consciousness within the agency, within all of our staff.
1:05:12
In the past year she's done a lot of in person training for hundreds of people.
1:05:18
She has led workshops and educational events to raise awareness.
1:05:24
And another idea she had and that we've launched is the creation of an employee resource group for employees with disabilities and their allies.
1:05:34
Anyone can join.
1:05:35
We had a kickoff meeting with the former commissioner and chief of staff and myself.
1:05:40
We were all there.
1:05:41
It was very well attended.
1:05:42
It's now grown to 135 people.
1:05:45
And many of the people who are members have actually come forward and said, you know, they have disabilities that are not apparent.
1:05:54
And they didn't feel comfortable coming forward and indicating, sort of coming out with their disability before that because they were worried about stigma, potential impacts to their career and so on.
1:06:06
So it's been a really transformative experience I have to say within the health department, this whole area of work.
1:06:12
I think people feel more included.
1:06:14
Of course we have more to do, but we're demonstrating a real support and encouragement for people with disabilities to come forward.
1:06:23
They're doing ASL training.
1:06:27
Some employees have volunteered to do this with other employees.
1:06:31
That's become very popular.
1:06:33
And these are folks who work across the agency in all the different areas of the health department.
1:06:38
And I can say they bring that passion and that excitement and wanting to do something within their span of control in their program to sensitize other people in their areas.
1:06:50
Just as you were talking about things you could learn and what you learned from having that intern, that's happening at the health department.
1:06:56
And it really makes a difference because people will then bring that passion to whatever it is they're doing and want to make some changes.