Chris Hilderbrant Consulting Services
Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance
Whether your business is small, medium, or large, you have obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Some elements of compliance are about the built environment and some are about how you provide your services.Some businesses say that their building is “grandfathered” in, because it predated the ADA. The reality is that there is no such thing as grandfathering or outright exemption. This does not mean, however, that all businesses and all buildings will be held to the same standard. Chris Hilderbrant Consulting will work with you to explain your obligations under the ADA, identify your current weaknesses, develop and implement a plan to address those weaknesses.
Of course, no one wants to be on the receiving end of a lawsuit for failure to comply with the ADA. The government has many agencies involved in the enforcement of the ADA and other laws protecting people with disabilities, these include the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the US Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation, the State Division of Human Rights, and other enforcement agencies.
And in today’s world of social media, live streaming, and the immediate viral spread of information, do you want yours to be the business that fails to provide equitable access and customer service and finds itself on the wrong end of a trendy hashtag or being featured in the evening news for all the wrong reasons? And while all of these are threats to your business, you might also be missing out on a real opportunity.
Besides just meeting your obligations, providing access to people with disabilities is good business!
People with disabilities are a substantial financial market. People are increasingly entering the job market and earning better wages. Also, as the US population ages, more and more people will experience disability and need access features in order to take advantage of what your business has to offer.
Chris Hilderbrant Consulting is here to help you fully comply with the ADA and other access laws. More than that, we want to help you make your business as accessible and welcoming as possible for prospective customers and employees with disabilities! Let’s create a positive buzz about you to get you ahead of your competitors.
Disability/Diversity Training
Chris Hilderbrant Consulting offers an array of trainings and experiences to help you and your employees better understand the real world experience of people with disabilities. We will help you understand and navigate disability culture in order to provide a better workplace environment for employees with disabilities and a better experience for your customers with disabilities.
The stereotypes and misperceptions held by society about people with disabilities are varied, pervasive and damaging. People with disabilities are often perceived as frail, weak, docile, incapable of fending for themselves and even incapable of making basic decisions for themselves. News media and entertainment sources are often the primary sources from which society may learn about the lives of people with disabilities. Unfortunately, these sources are often deeply skewed in their portrayal of disability.
There is no substitute for experience. Work with Chris Hilderbrant Consulting to get the experience you need to ensure that your services meet the needs of customers and employees with disabilities.
Human Resources Support
People with disabilities are an increasing segment of the workforce. In a competitive labor market, you want to do everything you can to attract and retain the most qualified workforce, including people with disabilities. Chris Hilderbrant Consulting will work with you to recruit such workers, provide reasonable accommodations as needed, and create a work environment that is welcoming and desirable.
In addition, Chris Hilderbrant has 15+ years of leadership experience and is certified to implement the DISC behavior assessment tool. Let Chris Hilderbrant Consulting help you provide the best environment to get the most from your employees, whether or not they have a disability.
Advocacy, Lobbying, and Government Relations
With over 15 years of experience working with government officials on the local, state, and national levels, Chris Hilderbrant Consulting is ready to work with you to develop and implement strategies to advance legislation and policies that further the ability of people with disabilities to secure the access, supports and services needed to live fulfilling, independent, integrated lives.