As a global company working on worldwide influencer campaigns, it’s impossible not to have an appreciation for all types of people as a Digital Voices employee. Our internal team is as creative and unique as the brands we work with and the influencers we contract. 

Diversity and inclusion has been built into our company DNA. And while there are so many beautiful forms of diversity that we constantly aim to represent, July was Disability Pride Month in the US, so we’re digging deeper into what it looks like to represent and include folks with disabilities, both in the workplace and online.

In March 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world’s population, have a significant disability. These disabilities are spread across a diverse range of race, gender identity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, and religion. Keep in mind that you can’t always tell if someone has a disability just by looking at them – there are both physical and intellectual disabilities, and we can’t assume someone’s status based only on appearance.

What does it look like to have disability inclusion in the workplace?

First and foremost, it’s important to acknowledge the contribution that people with disabilities can have in their workplace. Harvard Business Review found that hiring people with disabilities positively impacts company culture, problem solving ability, PR, and more! This type of diversity is great for companies across industries and should be celebrated.

Digital Voices is a fully remote company, allowing employees to create their own perfect workspace – this is hugely beneficial for folks with disabilities who may need extra resources or breaks to accomplish their work. This might mean having a completely quiet space to work, a more comfortable desk setup, or special tools like adaptive technologies on your computer for extra accessibility. Because disabilities are not one size fits all, the opportunity to have our individual needs met is so helpful!

In building a company that works for people with disabilities, communication needs to be at the core of everything. Managers should have an understanding that every employee needs different tools in order to succeed, and speak openly with them about how they can support them, whether they have disabilities or not.

Finally, a human resources department that employees can speak with confidentially and provide additional support will help all employees succeed. Employees are not obligated to tell their manager if they have a disability, but if they need accommodations, it is in their best interest to share it with HR. A great HR department will help every individual succeed based on their individual needs, as that is what will help the company succeed!

What does disability representation look like in the influencer space?

With the independence of creativity of influencers, the online space is such a wonderful place for people with disabilities to show up and tell their story, creating representation and sharing knowledge with every post.

Something as simple as a “day in the life” video can radically change when the creator has a disability, but the opportunity to share how they do small things throughout their day differently to accommodate can really educate their viewers. Even for viewers without disabilities, these videos can be really interesting and build empathy, helping them to understand how other people live.

It makes sense for brands to want to work with disabled creators, because it shows their values and use cases outside of typical consumers. Disabled people aren’t often featured in large budget advertisements, but influencers are a great way to reach them more directly. This is a powerful group of creators and an important market to serve.

Some disabled creators to watch are April Lockhart, Daniel M. Jones, and Lauren Spencer (but there are so many more to discover!).

What’s next?

At Digital Voices, we are committed to pitching diverse creators for every campaign, but we’re continuing to push for disability representation across our clients. We will always fight for diversity and showcase its importance in marketing and advertising. 

We also need to be responsible for providing the necessary resources to our creators with disabilities – having flexibility in our processes that allow for everyone we work with to be empowered to create work that they are proud of will lead to more success for them and the brands they partner with. We’re excited for a more inclusive, representative future, starting right here in the influencer space!

If you’re interested in how diverse creators, including those with disabilities, can help amplify your brand, reach out to us at hello@digitalvoices.com.