Industry Veterans Release Inclusivity Guidebook

Industry veterans Jed Seifert and Vince Bartozzi with Stakes Manufacturing, Patrick Bardsley and Tim Howe with Spectrum Designs, and Marshall Atkinson with Atkinson Consulting have teamed up to author a guidebook championing inclusivity and hiring people with disabilities into the print workforce.

The book is entitled “INKclusivity: Company Benefits of Disability Inclusion & How-to Implementation Guide for the Print Industry.” It is said to challenge the printing industry’s notion of who should be considered for a job.

According to the authors, the book aims to open business owners’ minds to what is possible when you focus on people’s abilities instead of disabilities and help them see the path to creating an opportunity for someone with disabilities who might be their next best employee.

Seifert stated, “We’re helping companies understand the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and what inclusion does for your business. This starts with breaking down the false stigmas and preconceived notions around hiring people with disabilities and then educating them on the incredible free disability employment support organizations all over the country that are eager to assist them. This isn’t charity, many of our top-performing and most reliable employees have disabilities.

Seifert continued, “We aim to drive an industry-wide impact, creating more employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the print industry while helping companies improve their culture, retention, and performance. Creating a safe, welcoming environment for all people, where they can be comfortable being themselves and don’t have to pretend to be anything different. A work environment where all employees with and without disabilities can be open about their weaknesses and what they need to be successful, knowing that the company will help them mitigate their challenges, cultivate their strengths, and put them in a position to be successful, maximizing their fulfillment, happiness, and dedication.”

“INKclusivity” is a guidebook that contains the collective experience of how a business can make inclusivity work. It provides the tools necessary to make effective change, such as:

• Understanding inclusivity
• Company benefits
• Workplace assessment
• Building an inclusive culture and environment
• Hiring, onboarding, and training practices
• Universal design and process optimization
• Ongoing support and development
• Community engagement and partnerships
• Success strategies
• Legal considerations and compliance

“INKclusivity: Company Benefits of Disability Inclusion & How to Implementation Guide for the Print Industry” will be available in both print and digital download formats in October, coinciding with National Disability Awareness Month.

Click here to sign up for the free INKclusivity digital book.