Six Ways to Make Your Website More Accessible
A 2019 report from Hootsuite and We Are Social found that people are currently spending an average of over six hours online every day. Some are spending even more time online than that between work and other extracurricular activities that are now virtual due to COVID. Many people take for granted how easy it is […]
504/508 Compliance in the Time of COVID-19
There is no question that COVID-19 has changed the way that we work and interact. Many employees are spending more time working at home or in offices with fewer colleagues than before, including federal agency workers. For those with diversabilities (diverse abilities), this can present challenges that these agencies have not had to prepare for […]
Applied Development Secures Spots on BBJ Women-Owned List, BBJ Minority-Owned List, and Inc. 5000
2020 has been a tough year all around. Between the pandemic and widespread social injustices, we are all feeling the strain. However, at Applied Development, we know the importance of celebrating when we can and continuing to look for the bright points in an otherwise stressful year. We are excited to announce that we have […]
Reducing Barriers for Deaf Employees During COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed the way we work, from offices and organizations moving towards a completely remote model to essential businesses implementing social distancing and new hygiene practices. While these measures are pivotal for public health during the pandemic, they are posing brand new challenges for those with diversabilities (diverse abilities), including the Deaf community. As […]
Deaf Culture Quick Guide
Shared experiences and similar backgrounds create bonds between us that form a culture. In fact, culture is defined by Oxford Languages as “the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.†As a tight-knit social group with a unique language, it makes sense that the Deaf community would […]
How to Be a Good Business Mentor
A mentor/mentee relationship is a special one. Mentees look up to their mentors for advice, knowledge, and skills in the business world. This puts a large responsibility on the business mentor to provide expertise in their field and work to build a productive relationship with their mentee. If you are currently a mentor or you […]
Encouraging Self-Identification of Diversability for Your Employees
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) recently released an updated version of the SF-256 (Self-Identification of Disability) form. Federal contractors are required to implement the new form by August 4th, 2020, which will be valid through March 31st, 2023. The SF-256 is a good tracking tool for government contractors who are interested in […]
Creating an Accessible Conference Room Space
Did you know that Americans spend an average of five hours per week sitting in meetings? In fact, nearly 11 million meetings happen in the U.S. every single day. While most of those meetings are happening virtually right now, many people will eventually be going back to working in office settings. Creating conference rooms that […]
Remote ASL Interpretation vs In-Person ASL Interpretation
Deaf and Hard of Hearing people have a few different options for communicating in the workplace or at events. Some prefer real-time transcription services while others may favor text phones and video relay services. However, one of the most effective means of communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals is sign language interpretation. An […]
Understanding What Reasonable Accommodation Means
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, all employees have a right to reasonable accommodations to do their jobs. While this act empowers people with disabilities to be successful and even excel in the workplace, the term “reasonable accommodation” is vague. Simply put, a reasonable accommodation is a change or addition to a typical process that […]