Applies and prioritizes strategies within one’s employment role to make the physical and virtual workplace accessible and inclusive to individuals of all abilities while demonstrating a willingness to learn new tools and develop new understandings of what ability and disability may mean to any individual.
Key Behaviors
- Demonstrates an awareness and understanding of temporary, permanent, apparent, and nonapparent/invisible disabilities and the intersections among disability, race, and other identities held.
- Considers accessibility for employees, contractors, fellows, volunteers, visitors, and community members of all abilities by making the following accessible: employment opportunities; technology (including videos, emails, and all communication mediums); services; programs; facilities; meetings, events, and other professional experiences (virtual, hybrid, or on-site); websites; documents; presentations (HHS Guidance Portal).
- Implements and communicates accessibility tools available in Microsoft and other software applications.
- Promotes accessibility by staying informed on and applying section 508 compliance policies and procedures to internally-created documents and externally-created documents where possible.
- Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to understand and be aware of ableist behaviors and language and shows respect and support for how individuals self-identify.
- Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to understand and be aware of the accessibility needs of participants and attendees during meetings, including availability of sign language interpreters and closed caption features.
- Provides staff with written and/or electronic resources on how to obtain support and accommodations.
Developmental opportunities for this competency are available from the NIH Training Center.