Katulak’s story isn’t unique – individuals with disabilities like visual impairment face barriers at every stage of the job search process. Oftentimes, they encounter hiring managers who are uncomfortable interacting with non-traditional candidates.
A new online course created by Perkins School for the Blind and Harvard Extension School seeks to change that. “Introduction to Inclusive Talent Acquisition” (INC1.1), which launches October 11, teaches hiring professionals how to successfully interview and hire candidates with disabilities.
“Recruiters and hiring managers are the gatekeepers of an organization,” said Perkins Community Resource Manager Rachel Kerrigan, who helped create the course. “This is an opportunity for them to think more broadly about where they’re recruiting from and how they can make the hiring process more inclusive.”
The course will be available for free on edX, the preeminent online educational platform utilized by top colleges and universities. Participants can take the course in one 3-hour sitting or absorb the material week by week. Either way, they’ll emerge with plenty of strategies they can implement immediately.