The Small Business at Work Toolkit

Do this

Recognize the importance of inclusion to the mission of your small business.

Not this

Ignore the business costs of marginalizing workers during everyday life in your workplace.

Do this

Create a culture of trust so workers can learn and perform better.

Not this

Dismiss the importance of trust-building to the work of your company.

Do this

Take a long hard look at what everyday life is like for employees. Who’s included? Who isn’t? What’s the cost?

Not this

Adopt a hands-off stance to employee interactions because you deem this out of your control.

Do this

Recognize that disability is a key issue in diversity and inclusion efforts for both large and small businesses.

Not this

Fail to recognize disability in your diversity efforts.

Do this

Send the message, set the tone. Disability inclusion is key to our success as a small business.

Not this

Treat disability inclusion with a charity or pity mindset.

Do this

Acknowledge unconscious bias so that it can be addressed.

Not this

Ignore hidden biases, such as discomfort around people with disabilities.

Do this

Make sure workers with disabilities have equal access to mentoring and coaching.

Not this

Be afraid to give coaching and feedback to workers with disabilities because you fear they can’t take it.

Do this

Consider providing disability-awareness training or awareness-building experiences to your staff.

Not this

Believe these efforts are too expensive or time-consuming.

Do this

Start a disability-themed employee resource group that’s open to workers who have disabilities or are interested in disability issues.

Not this

Believe these groups won’t work because there aren’t enough people with disabilities in your workplace.