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Spotlighting Accessibility in Action: Building an Inclusive Workforce
This October is the 74th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which celebrates the many contributions of workers with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. While this takes place annually, its purpose is to reinforce a commitment to ensuring workers with disabilities have access to great jobs all year round. This blog will highlight…
Making Accessibility a Priority: Understanding Section 508, FMP’s Accessibility Evolution, and Must-Have Checklists for Accessible Documents
What Is Section 508 and Why Is It Important? As of July 2024, the CDC estimates that more than 28% of adults in the United States have some type of disability. The United States Federal Government has passed several laws relating to disability policy, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sections 501, 503, 504,…
Employee Spotlight – Pride Edition: Jonathan Horowitz
Today, we’re thrilled to share a Pride Month Spotlight on Jonathan Horowitz, FMP’s newest Managing Consultant. In this spotlight, Jonathan shares insights on his coming out story and how it has impacted his life. The topic of FMP’s 2024 Pride Panel was coming out, so we’re excited to continue that discussion with Jonathan here. Can…
Personal Reflections of Juneteenth: An FMP Employee Perspective
Juneteenth has been a part of the Black lived experience and cultural heritage for generations. Only recently recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth is a celebration of Black freedom that’s gone mainstream in a way we haven’t seen before…and frankly, I am MORE than here for it (as we all should be). For those who…
Self-Care and Empowerment During Pride (& Always)
Celebrating Pride Month is a joyous occasion to honor the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and to foster safe spaces where queer individuals can be visible, recognized, and celebrated. While it is important to celebrate pride, we also need to hold space for the disproportionate challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face in daily life, including difficult conversations…
Selecting for the Stars: Improving Accessibility in our Selection System
The interview process can be incredibly difficult and overwhelming. This is especially true for neurodivergent individuals and individuals with disabilities who may face additional barriers and challenges in the conventional interview format. According to some estimates, 30-40% of neurodivergent adults are unemployed or underemployed9. Neurodivergent candidates may struggle with understanding social cues, interpreting nonverbal communication,…
FMP Spotlight: IDEA Team
As we approach the close of Black History Month, our Spotlight team turned to FMP’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) team to hear the latest on what they’ve been working on, and what’s in store for 2024. In this blog, FMP Managing Consultant Lesley Perkins, who leads the IDEA team, shares the meaning of…
Practices to Maximize your DEIA Learning Curriculum
Over the past few years, the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) has been at the forefront of many minds. Despite this, unfortunately “checking the box” on implementing DEIA initiatives continues to be a pervasive issue. Instead of making meaningful and systemic changes to policies, processes, and programs, organizations often complete performative, compliance-focused,…
Spotlighting Accessibility in Action: Inclusive Design in Tech
What do Microsoft, Sony, and Apple have in common? Yes, they are all big tech companies listed on the S&P 500, but in the context of this blog, the common factor is they are leaders in applying inclusive design methods to develop products that are widely accessible. In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re…
Neurodiversity and Why We Embrace It: A Conversation with Kimberly Nuss Pt. 1
What is Neurodiversity? While this term may be new to you, neurodiversity has significantly shaped our world. Neurodiversity is a scientific concept that initially arose from brain imaging research in the 1990s. A publication from Harvard Health describes it as “the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different…