Celebrating the Disability Employee Resources Group's Impact: Two Years of Inclusion and Advocacy

At AudioEye, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive. One of the driving forces behind this commitment is our Disability Employee Resources Group (ERG), a passionate and dedicated group of AudioEye employees that promotes accessibility, inclusion, and equity for employees with disabilities. 

With exceptional support from our leadership team, the Disability ERG has, so far, raised awareness, provided valuable resources, and created spaces for open dialogue over the past couple of years. We’re excited to highlight some of the group's key accomplishments and recognize its members' hard work and dedication.

Engaging Panel Discussions

One of the standout accomplishments of the Disability ERG has been the organization of three insightful panel discussions consisting of AudioEye employees with disabilities and A11iance team members. These events have focused on critical topics such as the daily realities of living with a disability, advocating for inclusive medical care, and celebrating the voices of disability pride at AudioEye. This provided valuable learning opportunities for our entire organization and sparked meaningful conversations around disability inclusion.

Thought-Provoking Speakers

In addition to the panel discussions, the Disability ERG also organized two impactful speaker events. These events featured industry experts and thought leaders in the fields of disability advocacy, accessibility, and inclusion. Rasheera Dopson joined us to discuss Health Equity and Racial Justice, and Kemi Yemi-Ese spoke on the Art of Perseverance and shared her amazing paintings. 

By inviting renowned speakers to share their expertise, the ERG has provided employees with access to diverse perspectives, furthering our commitment to promoting an inclusive and forward-thinking workplace culture.

Lunchtime Learnings: Ongoing Education

To make learning about disability inclusion more accessible and engaging, the ERG hosted a series of three Lunchtime Learning sessions. These informal yet impactful events, held in partnership with the A11iance community, tackled key topics such as accommodation awareness, accessible social media practices, and quality assurance at AudioEye. By creating space for open, ongoing dialogue, the ERG has strengthened employees’ understanding of accessibility and inclusion — making these critical conversations a consistent and approachable part of our workplace culture, and deepening our collective commitment to inclusion.

Internal Training: Accessibility and Inclusion at AudioEye

One of the ERG’s proudest achievements is the Accessibility & Inclusion at AudioEye training. Developed by the Disability ERG in cross-functional collaboration with the A11iance Community, HR, Product, and Marketing, this impactful program is now a core part of every new hire’s onboarding experience. The concise training introduces employees to key concepts such as ableism, disability etiquette, inclusive content creation, and the accessibility resources available at AudioEye. 

By equipping all team members with a foundational understanding of accessibility and inclusion, we’re laying the groundwork for a more informed, respectful, and inclusive workplace — one where a culture of accessibility and inclusion can continue to grow and take root across every part of the organization.

Developing the Accessibility and Inclusion Playbook

The ERG just finalized an Accessibility & Inclusion Playbook, which will serve as a guide for employees to create a more inclusive and accessible work environment. The playbook will provide practical strategies and tools to incorporate accessibility and inclusion into everyday practices, ensuring that everyone at AudioEye can contribute to a more equitable workplace. Most importantly, it’s a blueprint for fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered to thrive. This ongoing project is a key part of the ERG’s long-term vision of creating a sustainable and inclusive work culture for all.

Monthly Disability ERG Meeting

Every month, the Disability ERG meets to review announcements, discuss upcoming events, explore opportunities to engage in projects, foster meaningful discussions, and offer support. These meetings are often where ideas for panels and other initiatives emerge.

Silhouettes of people in different shades of purple, pink, and white

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Work of the Disability ERG

These accomplishments are just the beginning. The Disability ERG continues to be a powerful force for change and advocates for employees with disabilities. Through the continued efforts of the ERG, AudioEye will keep evolving, ensuring that accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do. Even in organizations with a strong foundation, there's always room to enhance inclusivity.

Start Your Own Disability ERG

Any organization can start a Disability ERG and make positive changes in its workspace. AudioEye’s Disability ERG was started two years ago by two employees: myself and Mariella Paulino, AudioEye’s Senior Social Media Manager. We were both driven to continue the company’s mission of accessibility by advocating for further disability inclusion in the workplace. Together, we created a mission, goals, organization, structure, and participation requirements. We also decided our ERG will be open to everyone, while elevating the voices of employees who self-identify as disabled. Building on that foundation, we moved forward by launching projects and events that ultimately brought our vision to life.

We are incredibly proud of the Disability ERG’s work and the positive impact it has had on our company culture. As we move forward, we remain committed to supporting employees with disabilities through the ERG’s mission to create a more inclusive workplace for all employees.