From Compliance to Inclusion: Going Beyond Accommodations to Create Inclusion of Disability/Ability

Organizations often rely on legislation for prompting and guidance to serve their diverse employees and set goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Yet, developing research suggests that creating a culture of inclusion among workers with disabilities requires practices that go beyond the letter of the law, and are aimed directly toward enhancing employee integration and experiences of inclusion. This effort requires that organizations move beyond diversity alone by not only addressing a specific composition of people, but also an individual’s incorporation into the organizational climate and culture. The proposed panel symposium will provide informed discussion regarding the tension between legal compliance and the inclusion experiences of employees with disabilities from a range of researchers and practitioners working in DEI at various career stages and in various geographic locations.