SHRM, SHRM Foundation and the California Department of Rehabilitation Announce Partnership to Promote Disability Inclusion

SAN DIEGO — The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the SHRM Foundation, and the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) announced a partnership today to adapt the SHRM Foundation's Employing Abilities at Work Certificate program and resource guide to serve California workplaces and Californians with disabilities.

The agreement, which is part of the DOR's Demand Side Employment Initiative, was announced at the SHRM INCLUSION 2022 conference. INCLUSION 2022 brings together HR professionals and business leaders to discuss ways to mitigate bias, improve workplace culture, and boost employee satisfaction and business results.

By working with the SHRM Foundation, the California DOR seeks to encourage the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. The department will utilize Employing Abilities at Work content to embed disability inclusion into workplace curriculum at California's community colleges and provide resources to employers and human resource professionals.

"As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I am delighted to bring together SHRM and the California DOR at INCLUSION 2022 for this announcement," said SHRM Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs Emily M. Dickens. "The Department of Rehabilitation is helping Californians understand that disability must be discussed as part of inclusion, and the DOR is uniquely positioned to connect employers with untapped talent pools. SHRM is honored to be a part of these efforts."

The partnership will result in a California-specific curriculum focused on the employment lifecycle of employing people with disabilities. It will be designed to educate learners on disability inclusion in the workplace, best practices throughout the employee lifecycle, and specific strategies and pathways to ensure success for Californians with disabilities in the workplace. 

"Our partnership with SHRM is one of several innovative ways we are engaging with the California business community to employ more people with disabilities," said DOR Director Joe Xavier. "By educating employers and HR professionals about disability, we hope to connect businesses that are working to find talent in a tough job market with talented individuals who are often overlooked but want to work."

About SHRM

SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today's evolving workplaces. More than 95% of Fortune 500 companies rely on SHRM to be their go-to resource for all things work and their business partner in creating next-generation workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM.

About the SHRM Foundation

Founded in 1966, the SHRM Foundation is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the world's largest HR professional society, SHRM. SHRM represents more than 300,000 HR professionals across the globe, impacting 115 million workers and their families. The SHRM Foundation mobilizes the power of HR for positive social change in the workplace. Its robust resources, meaningful partnerships and evidence-based programming educate and empower HR professionals to hire diverse talent, build inclusive workplaces, prioritize workplace mental health and wellness, develop and support the next generation of HR professionals, and help employees find purpose at work and beyond. Learn more at shrmfoundation.org.

About the California Department of Rehabilitation

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities. DOR administers the largest vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs in the country, providing services to over 116,000 persons with disabilities in fiscal year 2022. Learn more at https://www.dor.ca.gov/.

About the Demand Side Employment Initiative (DSEI)

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) created the Demand Side Employment Initiative (DSEI) as an employer incentive program to support businesses to expand or start hiring people with disabilities. Learn more at https://dor.ca.gov/Home/DemandSideEmployment.