Risk Free Assessment
Lately, one word has been quietly following me around: intentional.
As someone who is blind, intentionality isn’t optional – It’s how I move around the world! Every choice I make, from how I navigate the office, to even the drink I order at a bar (check out the latest blog post on the John G. Samuel Website, and you’ll know what I mean!), Everything requires thought and awareness. That mindset doesn’t turn off when I step into my role as a leader. If anything, it matters even more.
One of the ways I’m trying to do this is by taking a clarity break. It’s even part of our quarterly review to ask, “is your manager taking a clarity break?”. Recently, I took one of those clarity breaks and headed to Panama to celebrate a couple of friends’ birthdays. Between an unforgettable three hours at the spa, sporting tropical shirts, and long conversations with people who don’t work in disability employment or accessibility, I found something incredibly valuable – perspective. Asking questions, listening, and learning about experiences outside my usual professional bubble gave me renewed clarity, not just for myself, but for how I can better support our team and the work we’re building together at Ablr.
That same intentionality is something I believe organizations must bring to their decisions around accessibility and disability employment. Often, clarity doesn’t come from another meeting or checklist, but rather it comes from proximity. From talking with people in the disability community. From hearing their stories. From understanding how they navigate the world, both digitally and physically. Those moments of insight are where better decisions are made, where purpose becomes clearer, and where inclusion moves from intention to action.
So, as I wrap up, I ask you to:
- Take a moment to be intentional.
- Review your digital content and ask whether it’s truly accessible.
- Commit to building products, platforms, and experiences that everyone can use.
- And when you’re thinking about talent, look to the skilled, capable Candidates coming through our workforce development programs!
And if you do all that, you will see that accessibility and disability employment aren’t side initiatives, but they are opportunities to lead with clarity, purpose, and impact!