Free Program Educates HR Pros on Recruiting, Retaining California Workers with Disabilities

The California Employing Abilities at Work certificate is now available to help HR professionals and their organizations in that state implement effective practices for recruiting and hiring individuals with disabilities.

California has 1.9 million working-age individuals with disabilities, according to the SHRM Foundation Employing Abilities at Work website. The Foundation, in partnership with the California Department of Rehabilitation (CA DOR), is providing the state-specific certificate to:

• Address California-specific disability employment laws and regulations.
• Share strategies on how to partner with CA DOR to access this talent pool. 
• Educate participants on the employment barriers people with disabilities face.
• Show participants how to articulate the business case for building an equitable, inclusive workplace for people with disabilities.
• Educate participants on how to create inclusive workplace environments.
• Impart best hiring practices and specific strategies to ensure workplace success for Californians with disabilities.

The 10-hour program is free for SHRM members and nonmembers, and participants will earn professional development credits toward their SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification. The program will also be provided to all California community colleges to integrate into their offerings.

The Foundation is excited to provide the curriculum, President Wendi Safstrom said in a news release.

“The DOR partnership demonstrates how the state of California is making disability inclusion a priority across its entire workforce,” she said. “This certificate, tailored to California employers, will help workplaces in California better hire and retain people with disabilities while also supporting disability inclusion.”

Additional information and registration are available at the Employing Abilities at Work website. CA DOR also offers free services to small businesses looking for assistance in recruiting, training, accessibility services, and tax credits and incentives related to serving people with disabilities.

Other SHRM Resources:

Where Can Employers Find Qualified Applicants with Disabilities?, SHRM Q&A
How Can HR Help Introduce More People with Disabilities into the Workforce?, SHRM Q&A
What Are Some Common Myths about Hiring People with Disabilities That Impede Disability Recruiting Initiatives?, SHRM Q&A