Celebrating Value and Talent During NDEAM

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we took a moment to chat with our very own Chief Information Officer, Mike Caprara, about the role digital accessibility plays in creating inclusive workplaces. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” is a powerful reminder that when barriers are removed, employees with disabilities have the opportunity to showcase their skills, contribute fully, and thrive in their careers.

In our conversation, Mike shared how The Viscardi Center helps organizations embrace accessibility as a way to not only meet compliance standards, but also to recognize and elevate the talent that people with disabilities bring to the workforce. He highlighted why these efforts are essential for building environments where value is seen, contributions are celebrated, and potential is unlocked.

Here’s what Mike had to say:

1. “Celebrating Value and Talent” is this year’s NDEAM theme. From your perspective, how does digital accessibility allow employees with disabilities to show their strengths in the workplace?
    
   Digital Accessibility is a critical enabler for individuals with disabilities to access quality jobs and thrive in their careers. It breaks down barriers and fosters an inclusive labor market where everyone has the tools and support to succeed. Accessible websites, applications, and remote work tools allow employees to demonstrate their talents, contribute fully, and participate in opportunities that might have otherwise been inaccessible.
2. In your experience, how has improving digital accessibility transformed the ability of employees with disabilities to participate and advance in their careers?
    
   Improving digital accessibility has transformed the careers of employees with disabilities by fostering independence, opening advancement paths, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring that all employees can thrive in their work environments. This shift creates a workforce where talent is at the forefront—not physical or cognitive limitations. For example, eliminating flashing images for users prone to epilepsy, minimizing distractions for those with ADHD, and designing systems that are fully navigable by keyboard go a long way toward ensuring hiring and workplace practices are inclusive and allow employees to shine.
3. What advice would you give to organizations looking to strengthen their inclusion practices, especially when it comes to digital accessibility?
    
   Improving inclusion through digital accessibility requires a multifaceted approach. By embedding accessibility into your organization’s culture, technology, and hiring practices, you create an environment where everyone can demonstrate their value. Key steps include conducting an accessibility audit to identify barriers across digital platforms; incorporating accessibility from the start of each design process; providing assistive technologies like screen readers and text-to-speech converters; and ensuring an inclusive hiring process with WCAG-compliant application portals and accommodations during interviews. These steps help build a workplace where employees are recognized for their contributions.
4. What role does The Viscardi Center play in helping companies create inclusive digital environments that highlight and celebrate talent?
    
   The Viscardi Center has partnered with a number of companies throughout the U.S. looking to improve their digital accessibility and disability inclusion practices. We work with organizations to conduct accessibility audits of their digital platforms, tools, and workflows. This includes reviewing websites, mobile apps, intranets, and other technology used by employees and/or customers. Our detailed assessments highlight areas where companies can improve to ensure compliance with accessibility standards and create more user-friendly digital environments for people with disabilities. We also help ensure company’s recruitment platforms can be accessed by all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The Viscardi Center has positioned itself to be a “Solution Provider” for all Digital Accessibility Services. If your organization does not have the resources to perform the necessary remediation of your digital assets, The Viscardi Center can provide you with the appropriate solution based on platform, technology, needs, and budget.
5. Looking ahead, what are the goals or aspirations for The Viscardi Center in advancing disability employment and inclusion beyond NDEAM?
    
   Employment is one of The Viscardi Center’s 3Es, along with education and empowerment. The Center’s ongoing efforts to foster inclusive workplace cultures, advocate for policy change, and leverage technology to remove barriers expand employment pathways for the disability community. Our efforts aim to create a workforce where people with disabilities have equal access to meaningful, well-paying jobs and the chance to grow into leadership positions. As digital transformation continues to reshape the labor market, we remain committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are not left behind but are celebrated for their talent and empowered to fully participate and succeed in achieving employment and financial independence.

Our conversation with Mike was a promising look into the future of accessible work environments. Digital accessibility is a foundation of inclusive practices, but as Mike highlighted, it’s also about creating spaces where potential and skills can flourish without barriers. The Viscardi Center is proud to play a part in helping companies build these spaces, and we’re excited to see what we can achieve as we work toward a workforce that truly values diversity, inclusion, and talent.

To learn more about how we help your organization create pathways to opportunity for everyone, visit our Digital Accessibility Services webpage or reach out at daservices@viscardicenter.org. We look forward to helping your organization create pathways to opportunity for everyone.

Michael Caprara Chief Information Officer, The Viscardi Center