Consultations and Assessments for Individuals or Organizations

It’s not always easy or comfortable to say yes or no to an employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation. The mere mention of this request can cause fear of job security for the person asking and, concerns around productivity, co-worker reactions and more for managers and HR teams. As a 3rd party provider, Sierra’s on call or by retainer accommodation and job coaching services bridge this gap, while driving up employee retention and performance.

Part of the accommodation process may include, or solely be the provision of a professional job coach. Sierra’s job coaches are professionals who are experienced in 3-way communications, job duty observation and thereby design strategic coaching sessions to enable employees whose disability is affecting work performance to become more productive and confident in delivery of day-to-day workplace duties.

When the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was passed into law in 1990, the Internet was not mainstream, and CRMS, emails and video conferences were not yet commonplace in any company. Considering that Google launched in 1998, it is easy to see how the ADA’s intent for equal access meant to include assistive technology users and others with a variety of disabilities in the workplace, yet, specific guidance was not envisioned.

Updates abound in this realm that have expanded the term Accessibility from the physical space requirements of the 1990’s to the digital channels that we do life with in the 2020’s. From awareness to compliance can be a complex journey, or one that we can help to guide.

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY as a term, and a growing industry that is covered by ADA, OFCCP and DEI principles and guidelines.

The need and intent is to ensure that all information and communications technology (ICT) is developed/designed to be usable by individuals with disabilities. People who use assistive technology devices, and people with other disabilities that affect cognition, hearing, memory and vision can be inadvertently excluded when information technology does not follow US DOJ Rulings and WCAG guidelines.

The following Sierra services fall under the category of Digital Accessibility:

• Awareness Training/Professional Development: See Professional Development, for our facilitated seminar on Communicating with Digital Accessibility in Mind, Tips & Tools. Additional customized awareness on this topic can be developed and deployed for your organizations teams. People teams, IT, Marketing and L&D departments all benefit from understanding the requirements of digital accessibility for an inclusive workforce. Call 1.800.973.7687 to schedule this facilitated seminar.

• Spot Audit for Digital Accessibility: Learn where your organizations website, recruiting practices, online forms and training materials fit into both DEI best practices, WCAG guidelines, and expanded ADA/OFCCP compliance requirements. Call for a free 30 minute discovery session and price quote.

• Website Development, Testing, and Tracking Tools: To follow your organizations ICT path to develop, remediate and maintain digital inclusion can be performed at Sierra’s lead. We work side by side with your teams and our expert partnerships. Partnerships include the Sierra-Tamman 360 Collaboration and a host of additional experts who are trained and certified to deploy technology tools that help you meet WCAG guidance. Sierra’s added touch ensures that your organizations human factors DEI initiatives match up with all of your company’s ICT tools. Call for a free 30 minute discovery session and price quote.

Assistive technology is defined as any device, tool or strategy that assists a person with a disability to perform a task. Like all technologies, the variety and features of assistive technology applications and hardware devices continues to grow and expand. Since 1992, Sierra, the first AT vendor to the Commonwealth of PA’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation continues to evaluate and recommend the best array of AT for the person. Customized and individualized Assessment and AT training is at the crux of our success as AT consultants.

Booking an AT Assessment

• Individuals are often funded by their state’s designated unit of vocational rehabilitation. Email sethacosta@thesierragroup.com for bookings and more information.

• Businesses can work with Sierra to assess and train employees on AT that will serve as an accommodation and performance enhancement. Email info@thesierragroup.com for more information.

• Digital Technology service providers and testers turn to Sierra for connections with native AT users, as well as AT experiential situations.

Companies need a bridge between internal departments in order to include people with disabilities fully into their DEI initiatives. Beyond sensitivity and awareness, and robust outreach, ERG’s, organizations need to shore up their accommodations and digital accessibility practices, across business lines. DEI, IT, Compliance, HR, and Talent Acquisition and Marketing must all align to avoid barriers to applicants, customers or employees with disabilities.

Sierra serves this role as the niche expert for the disability component of any DEI department. This need is identified by request, or as is identified during our professional development and consulting services. Development of personnel, recruiting plans, auditing accessibility of Electronic information technologies and information communication technologies are the backbone of diversity and inclusion programs that attract and retain the best talent.