{"id":97508,"date":"2021-10-26T21:33:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T01:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-474945"},"modified":"2023-07-26T16:32:08","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T20:32:08","slug":"nasa-raises-awareness-inclusion-during-disability-employment-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/marshall\/nasa-raises-awareness-inclusion-during-disability-employment-month\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Raises Awareness, Inclusion During Disability Employment Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>By Rick Smith<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and a team of engineers and advocates at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is working hard to exemplify the values of diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s national theme, \u201cAmerica\u2019s Recovery \u2013 Powered by Inclusion,\u201d reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement, particularly as the nation continues its recovery from the <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/nasapeople.nasa.gov\/coronavirus\/\">COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The exterior of the Marshall Space Flight Center's Building 4221\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 44% 6%; object-position: 44% 6%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg 3600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Marshall\u2019s Disability Employee Resource Group wants the workforce to know they\u2019re here to embrace that idea \u2013 not just to ensure a comfortable work environment for those with readily apparent disabilities, but for those with so-called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.disabled-world.com\/disability\/types\/invisible\/\" rel=\"noopener\">invisible disabilities<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall Disability Program manager Natasha Stanton, leader of the employee resource group and an equal employment opportunity specialist in the center\u2019s Office of Diversity & Equal Opportunity, encourages everyone working at Marshall to join the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not necessary to have a disability to be part of this team of motivated, caring individuals,\u201d she said. \u201cMany of us at Marshall have co-workers, family members, or friends who have disabilities or identify as part of that community. Finding opportunities like these to show support, to seek new avenues of understanding and advocacy, are at the heart of inclusiveness \u2013 and have always been the bedrock of Marshall\u2019s success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Michael Effinger, a project manager in Marshall\u2019s Science and Technology Office, the chance to advocate for persons with less easily recognized disabilities compelled him to join the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThree members of my engineering team are colorblind, unable to discern shades of red or green,\u201d he said. \u201cThey requested we modify the way we marked up charts and documents to better enable them to respond to changes, ensuring more efficient turnaround of technical schematics and documents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Effinger said he was grateful for the co-worker who spoke up. \u201cIf we don\u2019t know, we can\u2019t make improvements,\u201d he said. \u201cIt hadn\u2019t occurred to me that something as simple as reformatting tracked edits in a Word document or using different kinds of pens to revise technical charts could dramatically improve a teammate\u2019s workflow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall materials engineer Craig Moore, who is blind, said normalizing such changes to the way Marshall conducts business is part of what drew him to join the group as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAccessibility is a broad topic, and it\u2019s fairly easy to alter our routine to accommodate all parties,\u201d he said. \u201cThat may mean using descriptive text to identify contents of a graphic for visually impaired persons, for example, or changing the rate of blinking cursors to avoid the risk of seizures for individuals who suffer from epilepsy or similar disorders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies estimate that about 10% of Americans have a medical condition that is considered an invisible disability, and as many as 96% of those individuals dealing with chronic illness live with conditions that are invisible, according to the American Psychological Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMany disabilities may impact the lives of the people who live with them, but for others all around them, the condition may not be readily apparent,\u201d Stanton said. Recognizing and acknowledging these hidden disabilities are among the first steps to building a more inclusive and efficient workplace, she noted \u2013 and that takes open, positive discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s our goal to find ways to clear those unanticipated obstacles, making every team member as successful as they can be to better guarantee the same for NASA\u2019s mission,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Disability Employee Resource Group currently holds a monthly virtual meeting to discuss issues and to suggest potential improvements across the center. The group will assist with collection and interpretation of data and promote developmental and advancement activities and community outreach; plan and implement special emphasis program activities; provide insight into barriers to workforce recruitment and selection; and propose solutions to specific challenges or issues relevant to the community of persons with disabilities. Stanton also is working to revise the group\u2019s formal charter and soon will have resources available on Marshall\u2019s intranet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employee resource groups offer voluntary participation to network, socialize, and raise awareness of relevant issues in the workplace. They support professional development, increase awareness and education, provide platforms for the launch of programs and learning opportunities to benefit the entire workforce, and further the agency\u2019s mission and goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe all have different perspectives,\u201d Moore said. \u201cIt strengthens our team and gives us new advantages to achieve NASA\u2019s goals when every voice is heard \u2013 and every individual is seen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about NASA\u2019s agency-wide resources for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/offices\/odeo\/resources-for-individuals-with-disabilities\" rel=\"noopener\">individuals with disabilities<\/a> as well as Marshall\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/offices\/odeo\/disability-employment-program\" rel=\"noopener\">Disability Employment Program<\/a> online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Rick Smith October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and a team of engineers and advocates at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is working hard to exemplify the values of diversity and inclusion. This year\u2019s national theme, \u201cAmerica\u2019s Recovery \u2013 Powered by Inclusion,\u201d reflects the importance of ensuring that people with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":304394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2864],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Raises Awareness, Inclusion During Disability Employment Month","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/marshall\/nasa-raises-awareness-inclusion-during-disability-employment-month\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/marshall\/nasa-raises-awareness-inclusion-during-disability-employment-month\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lee Mohon"}],"creator":["Lee Mohon"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","Marshall Space Flight Center"],"dateCreated":"2021-10-27T01:33:00Z","datePublished":"2021-10-27T01:33:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T20:32:08Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Raises Awareness, Inclusion During Disability Employment Month\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/marshall\/nasa-raises-awareness-inclusion-during-disability-employment-month\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-10-27T01:33:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,Marshall Space Flight Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Lee Mohon\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":304394,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/bldg-4221-with-milestone-markers.jpg","title":"4221 Exterior","alt":"The exterior of the Marshall Space Flight Center's Building 4221","caption":"MSFC Building 4221 exterior photograph"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97508"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97508"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":304408,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97508\/revisions\/304408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/304394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97508"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=97508"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=97508"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=97508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}