{"id":4912,"date":"2025-08-05T16:13:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T21:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeworks.org\/?post_type=blog&p=4912"},"modified":"2025-08-13T10:36:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T15:36:58","slug":"new-perspectives-on-disability-inclusion-through-trainings","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeworks.org\/blog\/new-perspectives-on-disability-inclusion-through-trainings\/","title":{"rendered":"A Day at the Lifeworks Center for Disability Inclusion \u2013 New Hope: Gaining New Perspectives on Disability Inclusion Through Trainings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Blog: A Day at the Lifeworks Center for Disability Inclusion \u2013 New Hope<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Gaining New Perspectives on Disability Inclusion Through Trainings<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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When Sasha pulled into the parking lot of the Lifeworks Center for Disability Inclusion \u2013 New Hope, she wasn\u2019t quite sure what to expect. Her company, located just a few minutes away, had purchased an in-person training on inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities. Sasha, who worked in Human Resources at her company, signed up to attend because she enjoys professional development sessions and figured she might learn a few new HR best practices.<\/p>\n

What she didn\u2019t expect was to be surprised before she even stepped inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was going to feel like an old warehouse or clinic,\u201d Sasha admitted later. \u201cI guess that\u2019s just what I\u2019ve pictured, based on things my neighbor has said about a different disability center his niece goes to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, Sasha found a bright, modern space with natural light, thoughtful design, and welcoming energy. The host who greeted her offered coffee and a smile and invited her to take a look around.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like a \u2018disability services\u2019 building,\u201d Sasha said. \u201cIt felt like a space I would hang out at on the weekends.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The training began with an introduction to Lifeworks and what a Center for Disability Inclusion is – a neighborhood space where people with and without disabilities can learn, connect, and build a more inclusive future together. Then the facilitator led the group into the training: how to create workplaces where people with disabilities not only feel welcomed but truly belong.<\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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As the training unfolded, Sasha\u2019s understanding began to shift.<\/p>\n

She learned that most disabilities aren\u2019t apparent, and that it\u2019s likely some of her coworkers may already identify as disabled but haven\u2019t disclosed it at work. She was surprised to discover that accessible practices, like flexible work hours or quieter spaces, benefit everyone, not just people with disabilities. She heard real stories, reflected on unintentional bias, and got practical tools to take action.<\/p>\n

By the end of the session, Sasha walked away with a checklist of easy ways to make her office more inclusive and a whole new mindset.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m \u00a0excited to go back to work tomorrow,\u201d she said. \u201cI already have three things I want to start doing differently.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Before heading out, Sasha lingered in the lobby for a moment and made a mental note to tell her neighbor about the Lifeworks Center for Disability Inclusion – how open, accessible, and beautiful it was, and how it might be a place his niece would prefer.<\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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About the Series<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This post is part of our new blog series: \u201cA Day at the Lifeworks Center for Disability Inclusion \u2013 New Hope.\u201d Each story in the series reflects real experiences shared with us by people who visit the center – whether for Day Support, Employment, In-Home or Navigation Services, or stopping by for a training, education sessions, or community event.<\/p>\n

To honor the privacy of individuals and highlight the many ways people engage with the space, names and details are blended to paint a fuller picture of what accessing a Center for Disability Inclusion looks like in everyday life.<\/p>\n

Other Posts in this Series<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Finding the Right Support Through Navigation Services<\/a><\/p>\n

Creating Community Through Day Support Services<\/a><\/p>\n

Moving Forward with Employment: Where Understanding Meets Opportunity<\/a><\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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