Applied Development

Writer Jennifer (Jay) Palumbo says in Forbes: “inclusive hiring practices…can contribute to a more equitable workforce where all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have the opportunity to succeed.” This is an important reminder during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (#NDEAM) and beyond.

Applied Development was honored to represent the Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) Disability Programs Directorate (DPD) at the M-Enabling Conference held October 15-16 in Arlington, VA. The DPD supports the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) and Department of Defense (DoD) Shared List initiative with the goal of increasing federal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The conference, which explored the latest trends in digital accessibility and inclusion, provided an opportunity to engage with a variety of stakeholders to discuss ways to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities. The DPD partnered with the DoD Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP), DoD’s centrally funded assistive technology and reasonable accommodations program, to share information and discuss the many benefits of DoD's programs supporting disability employment. In the photo: Kathleen O’Regan, COO of Applied Development (left), and David Jones, Senior Disability Expert (right), at the M-Enabling Conference.

The Valuable 500 defines authentic disability representation as “the systematic and genuine portrayal of disability across all media, communications, and consumer touchpoints.” We recommend their helpful key principles as a roadmap to authentic representation.If you need support to get started on the journey, we encourage you to reach out to work with us on strategic communications.

At Applied Development, our goal is to ensure everyone is informed and up-to-date about best practices for inclusion in the digital realm. In this blog post, we offer insights on four key #DigitalAccessibility topics, including new regulations, artificial intelligence, design and development processes, and testing tools. Ready to find out how we can help your agency or organization ensure your web content and digital documents are accessible? Learn about our #Section508 compliance services or contact us for a free comprehensive consultation!

Implementing #DigitalAccessibility isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the law. These expert insights shared by Lightkey are essential starting points to enhance engagement and brand reputation. What digital accessibility tips would you add?

As user experience expert Tinaa P Gadda reminds us in Forbes, digital inaccessibility creates a poor user experience. To transform how people interact with technology, it’s essential to implement #InclusiveDesign practices.

At Applied Development, our core values are the foundation for everything we do, from the decisions we make every day, to the clients we work with, to how we build our team of dedicated and passionate professionals. Visit our website to learn more about what drives our work, and to learn how we can best support you in having a meaningful impact on workplace inclusion and belonging: https://lnkd.in/erTgZ8ZG (Image description: A circle with the Applied Development logo at the center. At the top of the circle, in a smaller black circle, text says “Core Values.” Surrounding the rest of the large circle are five smaller white circles with one core value in each: “Delight the Customer, Serve Enthusiastically, Relationships Matter, Yearn to Learn, Accountable.”)

On September 4, new rules went into effect that apply to federal building #accessibility. Learn more about implementation and compliance in this insightful Federal News Network interview with Katy K., Chair of the United States Access Board, and Charles Hardy AIA, CCM, Chief Architect of the GSA's Public Buildings Service.

Embracing #DigitalAccessibility isn’t just about legal compliance; it’s crucial for fostering a more inclusive workplace for all. If you’re seeking to improve the accessibility of your digital presence, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (#NDEAM) is a great time to get started. Our blog offers insights on the benefits of digital accessibility and tips on implementing it. For those ready to dive deeper, we invite you to reach out about how we can work together to support your digital accessibility efforts.

In the spirit of embodying our core values of delight the customer, serve enthusiastically, yearn to learn, relationships matter, and be accountable, Applied Development has partnered with CORE Interpreter Mentorship Program to offer sponsorship to ASL interpreters who are committed to growing their skills and developing a network among other interpreters through mentorship, community-based learning, and partnership with the Deaf community. If you have been accepted to a CORE mentorship cycle, you can also apply for sponsorship. https://buff.ly/3ZMzHTl