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What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and why does it matter?

Since 1988, October has been designated National Disability Employment Awareness Month, but for Nelnet, accessibility and inclusivity are concrete ideals we strive for daily in our work environment and, for many of us, on the job. This year’s theme for the awareness month celebration is Access to Good Jobs for All.

Before we explore why Nelnet is so passionate about accessibility, first let’s explore why the employment of people with disabilities matters so much.

How many people have a disability and can they still work?

People with disabilities need and want to work to support themselves, but also to have something to be proud of that they do for a living. Disabled people have been able to benefit from increased flexibility to work remotely and the tight labor market that followed the COVID-19 epidemic. Their employment rates hit a record high in May 2024, but gaps remain. When people of all ages are considered, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows those without disabilities (65.5%) were nearly three times more likely at that time to be employed than those with disabilities (23.1%).

65.5% of people without disabilities were nearly three times more likely to be employed at that time, compared to 23.1% of people with disabilities.

While the unemployment rate of disabled people also hit record lows in 2022 and 2023, the rate stands at 8.3% in August 2024—nearly twice as high as the 4.2% experienced by nondisabled people. Disabled people face discrimination, as well as the challenges of applying for jobs and finding jobs that match their skill set or offer accommodations.

Unemployment rate for disabled individuals is 8.3%, while for non-disabled individuals it is 4.2%.

Who are Nelnet’s accessibility experts and what do they do?

Balsano has nearly 20 years of accessibility experience, previously running accessibility and other programs from the legal and compliance department at a large company. He is also deaf, having inherited a gene from his father that caused hearing loss. He understands accessibility from a technical and personal perspective, relying on technology, hearing devices, closed captioning, and some ability to read lips to function.

Balsano is not the only Nelnet Accessibility team member with a disability. Several of Balsano’s team external members have disabilities, and numerous internal team members as well. In fact, “[IT Accessibility Team Lead] Marc Thorson has a mobility disability and uses his eyes and his voice to do everything,” said Balsano.

If I’m a new parent, I’d go to other parents for advice. If I’m opening a new business, I’d go to someone who’s been through it. So your accessibility program is stronger when it includes people with disabilities. With our staff, we try to round it out, covering various types of visual, audio, mobility, and cognitive disabilities—and we pretty much have those covered.

Mark Balsano

IT Manager for ADA Accessibility, Nelnet Government Services

He added that we sometimes forget the diverse needs of people with mobility issues. Balsano also pointed out that people with vision issues speed listen to websites so it’s very important to have your site properly formatted for them so that they can quickly access what they need. He said it’s important to build websites that eliminate audio chaos and visual confusion such as blinking lights and distracting colors to make them easier to navigate for people with cognitive disabilities who are often overlooked.

We’re not just helping agencies become compliant with the law. We’re teaching them to fish. We’re teaching them how to do this going forward and showing them, this is a human rights issue. It’s not just a legal thing, it’s just the right thing.

Mark Balsano

IT Manager for ADA Accessibility, Nelnet Government Services

Balsano pointed out, “If you create a product that’s not accessible, you lose about 25% of the marketplace and if you create a product that is available to anyone, you have 100% of the marketplace to sell to.” Accessibility makes business sense, but it’s more than that.

“I tell my team that we literally change someone’s life every single day,” said Balsano. “It’s really rewarding work. Almost everyone in this field either has a disability, lives with someone with a disability, or has a child or a parent with a disability. And the largest growing community in the US is over 65. We’re all aging into some type of disability, whether temporary or permanent.”

While Nelnet’s Accessibility teams are focused on this topic daily, Balsano said they do understand the need to continue to increase awareness around accessibility more generally. Nelnet’s Jedi Council was created years ago by the Accessibility teams to help educate interested associates on accessibility and inclusion. During months like this, they focus on boosting awareness of disability employment and other issues.

How does Nelnet create an accessible, inclusive culture?

Nelnet’s core value of creating an awesome work environment considers the needs of all associates, including those with disabilities. We have the expertise of our talented Accessibility teams to help us make our own website, apps, and materials accessible, but Balsano noted that this is not a one-and-done process.

“For a call center rep, they have four or five different applications they must go to. They look at billing, and all those sites have to be accessible by a screen reader or any other device that’s used for accessibility. It’s something the business needs to be conscious of and there’s always room for improvement. Just like technology changes daily, accessibility changes daily,” said Balsano.

Nelnet focuses on finding the best fit for positions, and casting the widest net means making sure all of our sites and application materials are accessible to every candidate. As Balsano pointed out, “You get really loyal people when you give someone a chance. You get people who want to do a good job and they concentrate on offering a very high performance.”

As Nelnet focuses on creating an accessible, inclusive, and awesome work environment where all associates feel welcome and have a positive user experience, Balsano commends this as not only the right thing to do, but something that pays off. He points to Apple as an example of one of the first companies that thought about accessibility and taking care of users. While their products might cost more, customers remain loyal.

People tend to be loyal to people and companies that take care of them—and that applies not just to people with disabilities. That’s why it’s a fantastic thing to do if you’re really trying to build your market, hold your market, and make the world a better place.

Mark Balsano

IT Manager for ADA Accessibility, Nelnet Government

Nelnet’s robust benefits and wellness programs provide great support to all associates. The organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program, Better Together, offers training and resources, Empower Hour small group conversations, and the Disabilities, Access, Neurodiversity, and Caregiver Empowerment (DANCE) associate resource group. These opportunities all help to create a culture of belonging and provide a safe outlet for self-identification, collaboration, and socialization to remove stigma and inaccurate perceptions.

Nelnet is obviously compliant with laws but also sensitive to making accommodations for the needs of individuals with disabilities so that they can most effectively do their jobs.

For example, DANCE Co-chair Matt Stanley has attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) inattentive type. He said working remotely can be extremely helpful for people with the condition because it allows them to minimize distractions and reduce noise by controlling their own environment. Stanley said his manager, Mike Nichols, has been very understanding of his situation. He emphasized that Nelnet offers a supportive environment and that the DANCE group encourages and allows space for openness, sharing, and learning.

Just as the clients Balsano’s team has provided accessibility training to now see the world differently, Better Together has helped create an inclusive environment where associates are encouraged to look through a new lens. They begin to see how differently the world may be perceived and experienced by those who have a disability.

This is how Nelnet celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month every day.

Create your own culture of accessibility.

To employ Nelnet’s accessibility experts for accessibility training, meeting regulatory requirements, or help creating an accessible and inclusive culture, reach out to our team today.

AUTHOR

Susie McCormick

Senior Corporate Communications Writer