Managing Diversity -Special Needs Employers

Research suggests that a meaningful share of the population lives with a disability, yet employment rates among this group remain disproportionately low (exact figures vary by country and by study). As CDPs, we play a significant role in facilitating employment for people with disabilities, so it is helpful to have relevant information readily on hand when clients need it.

Developing a database is one of the handiest resources a practitioner can create — ideally, one that is easy to access and use, and that can be updated regularly to give clients the most current information available. Collecting information to share is one role CDPs fulfil; networking to build contact lists is another, even if that networking simply means sending emails or making phone calls to local employers.

Case study

Ilse Langenhoven invested a great deal of time in creating a directory of organisations and resources for people with disabilities. She worked as a language practitioner for the University of South Africa and Technikon South Africa. Ilse had muscular dystrophy and was deeply passionate about disability rights in South Africa. She worked selflessly and was an inspiration to those around her, with a goal of creating a comprehensive directory of value to South Africans. It took Ilse several years to gather the information needed to build the directory. Before her passing in 2006, she had developed a directory containing as much information as she could gather. Although information changes over time, her directory remains a valuable platform that can continue to be updated and expanded.

The CDP's role in networking

Effective CDPs invest time in building relationships with industry. There are several benefits to doing so: industry not only offers employment opportunities, but it may also provide bursaries, work-shadowing placements and funding for development projects.

Tips for building your network

1. Take the initiative. Networking is something everyone should do. Some people are naturally good at it, while others shy away from it, so practitioners need to take the initiative, step out of their comfort zone, and reach out to industry partners.

2. Participate in events. Many organisations in South Africa host career days or open days each year, where industry plays a vital role. Conferences also provide valuable exposure. It is worth attending such events and participating actively. Joining organisations like SACDA can also help build your network.

3. Exchange information. Let people know what you are doing through emails, testimonials or newsletters. Sharing your initiatives can inspire others, and demonstrates your commitment to learner development — a good way to get noticed by industry.

4. Build your network online and offline. There are differences between networking online and offline, with offline (in-person) contact still the preferred way to build alliances. Online greetings and meetings are fine for initial introductions, but if you want to invite an influential person to an event you are hosting, it might be wiser to meet face-to-face rather than by email, since in-person meetings carry more emotional weight.

5. Build a list. Managing a network and a database requires a methodical approach to listing and recording new contacts. Keep track of every organisation and task you need to follow up on. Maintaining the database means regularly clearing out outdated information and contact details, as people sometimes change jobs. To grow your network, practitioners need to reach out to organisations and invite their involvement wherever possible — emailing and phone calls can help build rapport with organisations.

6. Commit to updating information regularly. Databases are only useful if the information they contain is current. Practitioners should make it part of their routine to update and gather information regularly, and could consider appointing an administrator to take on this task.

Organisations that can help

Learners with special needs have not always received the attention they deserve. A number of organisations are dedicated to making a difference for people with special needs, including Bradshaw LeRoux Consulting (https://bradshawleroux.co.za/), the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (https://ncpd.org.za/), QASA (http://qasa.co.za/home) and Disability Info South Africa (http://disabilityinfosa.co.za/). These organisations run programmes to support people with disabilities. There are also recruitment agencies that assist clients directly, including ClockWork Recruitment (https://clockworkapp.co.za/post-job-jobs-learnerships-persons-disabilities/), Disability Employment (https://www.disabilityemployment.co.za/), Frogg Recruitment (https://froggrecruit-sa.co.za) and DWDE (http://www.dwde.co.za/). The Department of Health also maintains a directory that can serve as a starting point for building your own database: http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/occtherapy/Disability_directory.pdf.

Building a simple database

Starting a database takes some forethought. Whatever software is used, the CDP should aim to create an organised, well-structured database. The database design process follows five steps:

1. Determine what purpose the database serves.

2. Source and organise the information.

3. Decide what relevant information you need.

4. Convert the information items into columns.

5. Back up the database.

Step 1: Determine what purpose the database serves. Define your database's purpose before you start: decide how you are going to use it, and who will have access to it. You could begin by writing something like "database of organisations that cater to students with special needs." Developing a clear purpose statement helps refine the information you include. In addition to collecting information about organisations, the practitioner should also create a database of student contact details, so that information about opportunities can be sent by email or text message. Databases should be specific enough that learners receive the right information — for example, an employer might specifically require a female candidate who is computer literate. Information gathered can include biographical and demographic details, educational level, and contact details, among others.

Step 2: Source and organise the information. It is important to decide what information to keep and what does not serve your database. To find and organise information for the database, it makes sense to start with what is currently available — for example, Ilse Langenhoven's list — and update it from there. Gather information from government websites as well. The list you create does not have to be perfect at first; you can always refine it as you go. You can then decide what kind of mailings you want to produce from the database — for instance, if you are looking for organisations that cater to people with special needs, you might want to generate letters requesting information.

Step 3: Decide what relevant information you need. The major subjects are the organisations themselves and the services each one offers. You could include sectors, such as mining or construction, and the types of jobs or bursaries on offer. Decide what to include based on what information learners actually need.

Step 4: Convert the information items into columns. Decide what information you need to track about each organisation in your table. You can create columns based on what learners or clients most often ask for, for example:

1. Name of the company

2. Who it caters for (types of special needs)

3. Address

4. Contact person to liaise with

5. Phone number

6. Email address

Step 5: Back up the database. Remember to save a backup copy of your database to protect your information in case something goes wrong.