Disability Awareness Players Teach Workplace Inclusion

Disability Awareness Players Teach Workplace Inclusion

Since 2009, Search’s Disability Awareness Training Players have been creating opportunities for both employment and education across Chicagoland. The Players are experts in their field, having disabilities themselves, and are employed by Search to lead interactive workshops that teach inclusion, accessibility and respect. 

This National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we celebrate the Players not only for the vital education they provide but also for the meaningful employment they hold. Their work challenges perceptions, builds understanding and shows businesses what true inclusion looks like in action. 

Through the Disability Awareness Training program, Search has trained over 20,000 people across 177 businesses and schools, completing 268 sessions that help organizations strengthen their disability inclusion practices. These workshops give companies the tools to create accessible environments and more inclusive hiring practices, opening doors for people with disabilities to thrive in the workforce. 

“Whenever there is an employee with a disability, they will feel more comfortable at their job site,” said Abby, a Disability Awareness Player. 

Each session is led by a team of Players who use their own lived experiences to connect with audiences in authentic ways.  

“One thing I like about being a Player is training companies to know how to be disability aware,” Lanni said. “Being a Player makes me very happy.”  

For Abby, the experience is about connection. “I get to meet new people,” she shared. 

Anthony, another Disability Awareness Training Player, shared that his motivation comes from a sense of purpose. “I always support the ones who have disabilities,” he said. 

Through their work, the Players help businesses understand that inclusion goes beyond compliance. It’s about creating environments where everyone feels respected and supported. When asked how it feels to experience a business that is disability aware, Lanni said, “It makes me feel happier, I feel dignity and respect.”  

Abby added, “I feel great, I feel like I’m part of them without being uncomfortable.”  

Anthony said, “I feel very happy about it because I have a lot of support.” 

The Players also challenge organizations to think critically about accessibility and equity in their workplaces. “Accessibility is for everybody, not just one particular person,” Abby said.  

By sharing their stories, the Players remind companies that inclusion has a ripple effect. “It makes me feel like I’m part of something and part of someone,” Abby said. “Inclusivity is an important thing to have because we don’t always have inclusive people, they can be rejecting.” 

When companies participate in the training, they leave with a better understanding of what it means to welcome employees and customers with disabilities. “I think a business should accept people with disabilities more often than being exclusive because there are a lot of people with invisible disabilities and physical disabilities. We’re all people; we think the same, we do the same, but people with disabilities have a slower time processing, so businesses should include that because we’re all human beings. Accept and respect as you want to be accepted and respected,” Abby said. 

The Players encourage businesses to consider completing a Disability Awareness Training. “We try to teach them how to respect our people the way they are. It’s important because we try to learn about different types of people and teach them how to respect us and have respect for everybody,” Anthony said.  

For the Players, their role is more than a job; it’s a way to lead change while building their own professional experience. They gain communication skills, confidence and connections that strengthen their career paths. For businesses, the training offers more than awareness; it provides a roadmap for inclusion and a reminder that hiring people with disabilities brings value, creativity and insight to every workplace. 

At Search, we know that meaningful employment can transform lives. The Players show what is possible when businesses commit to accessibility and inclusion. They teach others how to see ability first and help shape a workforce where everyone belongs.