Combating Ableism in the Workplace

Jonathan Meagher-Zayas is the founder and chief strategist of Equity Warrior Strategies LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to advancing equity and social justice within the nonprofit and social impact sectors. With over 14 years of experience, Jonathan specializes in capacity building, leadership development, community engagement, and DEI strategy. He is a queer Latinx nonprofit leader, a social work adjunct professor, a certified fundraiser, a certified diversity professional, and a doctoral candidate focused on critical pedagogy in nonprofit leadership.

Episode Summary:

Join Asheley Blaise as she welcomes Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, a prominent leader in advocating for equity and inclusion in nonprofits. This episode delves into the pervasive issue of ableism in workplaces, particularly for individuals with developmental disabilities, and explores strategies for creating inclusive environments. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of recognizing inherent biases, co-creating solutions, and shifting organizational culture to promote genuine belonging.

Throughout the episode, Jonathan shares valuable insights into the common misconceptions that employers and the public have about people with developmental disabilities, including assumptions about competency and the notion that accommodations are costly. He advocates for the power of language and the role it plays in either reinforcing or dismantling stigma. With educational examples from organizations like AHRC Nassau, Jonathan illustrates how effective advocacy and inclusion efforts can transform communities and workplaces. The conversation also highlights the continuous journey of self-improvement and actionable steps that allies can take to combat ableism.

Key Takeaways:

• Cultural Transformation: True inclusion transcends policy changes and is deeply rooted in shifting organizational culture.
• Co-Creation and Leadership: Involving people with disabilities in decision-making processes is crucial to developing impactful strategies against ableism.
• Language and Representation: The ways we communicate and represent individuals can either reinforce stigma or foster belonging.
• Continuous Learning: Addressing ableism requires an ongoing commitment to education and unlearning of societal biases.

Notable Quotes:

• "If employers really want to center people with disabilities, they need to co-create solutions together."
• "Belonging is a human need…language helps us connect, understand, and create that belonging."
• "Giving grace is going soft on the person but hard on the problem."
• "If you are most impacted by ableism in the workplace, you have the most expertise and perspective to share, how to better address it."

Resources:

• Equity Warrior Strategies LLC
• AHRC Nassau NYS Community of Practice on DEI

Encouraging you to dive into this insightful episode, it's clear there's much to learn and reflect upon when it comes to inclusion and equity. Stay tuned for more discussions on DSP Talk as we continue to explore ways to better our communities and workplaces.

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