Disability:IN launches new career accelerator program for disabled professionals

Disability:IN, an organization that advocates for disability inclusion in business, has announced the launch of a new career accelerator, the organization told HR Brew.

The Early Career Talent Accelerator is a 12-week development program that aims to help disabled professionals grow within their current companies. The pilot cohort includes 25 employees from 23 participating employers, including Blue Origin, Dell, Neiman Marcus Group, and Pfizer. All employees were nominated by their employers or supervisors.

The accelerator is broken into three sections, focused on developing oneself, skills, and others as a leader.

“Getting employees in the door—that’s only half the battle,” Jill Houghton, CEO of Disability:IN, told HR Brew. “You want to retain, develop, advance, and grow your talent. And that should include your talent that’s disabled.”

Just 5% of the 485 organizations on the Disability Equality Index (the organization’s annual list of best employers for disabled workers) offer employee retention and advancement programs specifically geared toward disabled talent. Employers participating in the accelerator program told Disability:IN that they wanted to provide their disabled employees with development opportunities, but weren’t sure how.

The accelerator curriculum was developed by disabled professionals and based on corporate advancement programs like the Executive Leadership Council’s Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium for Black professionals.

The program will finish in July, at Disability:IN’s annual conference, where participants can network and share what they’ve learned. The organization will keep in touch with participants after the program ends, according to Houghton.

“We will continue post-program to do check-ins with individuals at the 12 month, at the 24 month [mark], and follow these individuals on their journey and continue to engage with them and their companies,” she said.