As organizations respond to shifting federal guidance and growing scrutiny around DEI, many are scaling back their efforts due to uncertainty or fear. But what if the real risk isn’t doing too much, but not doing enough?

In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims sits down with Dr. ClauDean Kizart—education leader, author of Beyond Implicit and Explicit Bias, and founder of Lightwork Equitable Solutions—to unpack what’s actually changing, what’s being misunderstood, and where employers may be getting it wrong.

Together, they explore why inclusion should never have been treated as a standalone program, how longstanding civil rights protections continue to shape workplace responsibilities, and what practical, compliant inclusion looks like today. Dr. Kizart also challenges leaders to rethink equity, prioritize lived experience in decision-making, and move beyond performative efforts toward real, sustainable change.

If your organization is navigating uncertainty around DEI, this conversation offers a grounded, actionable path forward— rooted in inclusion without exclusion.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why many organizations are pulling back on DEI—and what’s driving the confusion
• What federal guidance actually says (and doesn’t say) about discrimination and workplace practices
• The critical difference between equality and equity—and why it matters for business outcomes
• Why treating inclusion as a “program” sets organizations up to fail
• How the lack of diverse perspectives can create blind spots and business risk 

Resources & Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Book: Beyond Implicit and Explicit Bias
• Lightwork Equitable Solutions LLC: https://lightworkeq.com/
• Dept of Justice - Office of the Attorney General (July 29, 2025): Memorandum for All Federal Agencies - Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination

About the Guest:

Dr. ClauDean “Dr. K” Kizart is an author, educator, and founder of LightWork Equitable Solutions. She helps organizations uncover bias and build more equitable, inclusive outcomes. 

About the Show:

Disability@Work is a Disability Solutions podcast. Hosted by Marketing & Communications Director, Ashley Sims, each episode offers practical insight for employers, HR and talent leaders, and advocates working to build more inclusive organizations. Learn more at DisabilityTalent.org.

At graduation ceremonies across the U.S., students are pushing back on artificial intelligence. From boos aimed at pro-AI speeches to growing skepticism about job prospects, Gen Z is sending a clear message: the future of work feels uncertain.

In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims explores how AI is reshaping entry-level jobs, why recent graduates are questioning the hype, and what this means for the next generation of talent.

Drawing on recent 2026 workforce data, Ashley unpacks the growing disconnect between rising employer expectations for AI skills and the lack of preparation many graduates feel. She also dives into a critical question: what happens when the “first rung” of the career ladder starts to disappear?

From “cognitive debt” to the tension between efficiency and expertise, this episode challenges both job seekers and employers to rethink how early-career growth happens in an AI-driven world.

Whether you’re a recent grad, employer, or advocate for inclusive hiring, this conversation will help you navigate the future of work—without losing the human skills that matter most.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Gen Z is pushing back on AI in the workplace
• The shrinking role of traditional entry-level jobs
• AI skills vs. real-world readiness
• Why human skills (judgment, creativity, communication) are rising in value
• What employers must do to redesign early career pathways

About the Show:

Disability@Work is a Disability Solutions podcast. Hosted by Marketing & Communications Director, Ashley Sims, each episode offers practical insight for employers, HR and talent leaders, and advocates working to build more inclusive organizations. Learn more at DisabilityTalent.org.

Sources:

• NPR, Advice for 2026 commencement speakers: Don't bring up AI, 2026
• CNBC,  Entry-Level Jobs Calling for AI Skills Nearly Doubled, 2026
• ZipRecruiter, Graduate Job Market Report, 2026
• Forbes, College Graduates Face Tight Job Market, 2026
• MIT Technology Review, Crisis in Entry-Level Work, 2026
• National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Job Outlook, 2026

Why are top employees with disabilities leaving organizations to grow their careers?

In this episode of Disability @ Work, host Ashley Sims explores a critical workforce trend: professionals with disabilities are 4x more likely to reach senior roles by switching companies than through internal promotions.

The problem isn’t a lack of talent—it’s a lack of opportunity.

Ashley breaks down the mentorship vs. sponsorship gap, how workplace bias limits advancement, and why organizations are unintentionally becoming “training grounds” for competitors. She also highlights the real cost of inaction: replacing high-performing talent is far more expensive than investing in accessibility and advancement.

If you’re a recruiter, HR leader, or executive looking to retain and develop inclusive leadership pipelines, this episode offers practical insights you can act on now.

Show Notes

In this episode, we cover:  
- Why employees with disabilities leave companies to advance their careers
- The growing gap between inclusion and leadership opportunity
- How sponsorship vs. mentorship drives promotions  
- What organizations should do to support high-potential employees

About the Show: Disability@Work is a Disability Solutions podcast. Hosted by Marketing & Communications Director, Ashley Sims, each episode offers practical insight for employers, HR and talent leaders, and advocates working to build more inclusive organizations. Learn more at DisabilityTalent.org.

In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims breaks down job hugging—a growing workplace trend where employees stay in roles they might otherwise leave because uncertainty feels too risky. This isn’t quiet-quitting or a lack of ambition. It’s a rational response to economic instability, layoffs, AI disruption, DEI rollbacks, and declining psychological safety at work.

Drawing on findings from the 2026 Disability at Work Report, Ashley explores why disabled employees are especially likely to job hug, how fear around disclosure and accommodations shapes career decisions, and why low turnover does not equal engagement. The episode also challenges employers to rethink what job hugging signals about trust, inclusion, and workplace systems.

Whether you’re an employer trying to understand shifting workforce behavior or an employee feeling stuck for practical reasons, this conversation offers critical insight into how safety, trust, and accessibility shape career mobility today.

Show Notes:

In this episode, we cover:

• What job hugging is—and why it’s not quiet quitting or disengagement
• Why economic uncertainty, layoffs, and AI disruption are keeping employees in place
• How DEI rollbacks and political shifts are affecting psychological safety at work
• Why disabled employees are especially likely to job hug
• What the 2026 Disability at Work Report reveals about disclosure, accommodations, and trust
• Why low turnover doesn’t equal engagement
• What employers can do to make growth and mobility feel safe again

Read the 2026 Disability at Work Report:
https://go.disabilitytalent.org/2026-disability-at-work-survey-report

About the Show

Disability@Work is a Disability Solutions podcast. Hosted by Marketing & Communications Director, Ashley Sims, each episode offers practical insight for employers, HR and talent leaders, and advocates working to build more inclusive organizations. Learn more at DisabilityTalent.org.

Recruiters and hiring managers are drowning in applications, but disabled job seekers are still being overlooked.

In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims breaks down the growing problem of AI “slop” in recruiting: mass‑produced resumes, keyword‑stuffed applications, and automated screening tools that prioritize volume over viability. While AI is often seen as a solution to hiring overload, the reality is more complicated, especially for candidates with disabilities.

Ashley explores how automation can unintentionally amplify bias, flatten lived experience, and filter out qualified candidates who do not follow traditional career paths. She also offers a more practical question for employers: Is there a believable path to success? Instead of searching for perfect matches, inclusive hiring requires judgment, context, and human decision‑making.

This episode digs into what helps recruiters move through high‑volume pipelines: why niche job boards and community‑based sourcing matter, where AI can support good hiring decisions, and how employers can refocus on real people instead of resume noise.

Show Notes: 

• Why recruiters are seeing an explosion of applications
• How automated screening tools can unintentionally exclude disabled candidates
• The difference between “matching criteria” and identifying a believable path to success
• Why traditional resumes fail to capture disability‑related career context
• When AI helps—and when it makes hiring worse
• How niche job boards and targeted sourcing reduce noise and improve outcomes

Disability@Work is a Disability Solutions podcast about inclusion, accessibility, and equity in the workplace. Hosted by Ashley Sims, each episode offers practical insight for employers, HR/TA leaders, and advocates working to build more inclusive organizations. Find out more at DisabilityTalent.org.

Feeling safe at work doesn't always come easy for people with disabilities, and for many disabled workers, that psychological safety is disappearing.

In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims explores what psychological safety really means in today’s workplace and why so many employees no longer feel safe disclosing a disability or asking for accommodations. Drawing on early findings from the upcoming 2026 Disability at Work Survey Report, Ashley breaks down what the data reveals about disclosure risk, DEI rollbacks, accommodation breakdowns, and the growing impact of leadership and manager behavior on trust at work.

This episode also examines why disability data tracking still matters, how accommodation processes shape long-term trust, and why manager training is one of the most powerful levers organizations have right now.

For organizations facing uncertainty, DEI rollbacks, or disclosure concerns, the data tells a clear story: subtle system changes are felt immediately by disabled workers, and safety disappears when trust is not actively maintained.

Disability Solutions is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing disability inclusion in employment. We partner directly with employers to strengthen inclusive hiring practices, improve accommodation processes, and use disability data responsibly. We also support job seekers with disabilities by providing accessible job opportunities, resources, and community outreach through our global network of more than 19,000 talent partners.

Learn more at disabilitytalent.org

What happens when talent is overlooked before it’s even seen?

In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims explores one of the most damaging barriers disabled professionals face in the workplace: being underestimated. She’s joined by Jessica Cox, the world’s first licensed armless pilot, and Pauline Victoria, disability inclusion advocate and employment equity leader, to unpack how perceptions—not ability—often shape opportunity.

Together, they discuss what it’s really like to go into interviews and workplaces with visible physical disabilities, how assumptions impact hiring decisions, and why confidence and representation matter more than most employers realize. The conversation also reframes workplace accommodations—not as burdens, but as practical tools that enable people to do their jobs well.

Jessica and Pauline also introduce their new podcast, Living Unlimited, which centers on the lived experiences of limb differences and highlights resources, resilience, and community.

Key topics include:

• Being underestimated in professional settings
• Physical disability and first impressions
• Workplace accommodations and self-advocacy
• Confidence, representation, and disability inclusion
• Lived experience with limb differences

This episode is essential listening for employers and HR leaders working to build more inclusive workplaces, disabled professionals navigating interviews and workplace accommodations, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of physical disability in the workplace.

Disability@Work is produced by Disability Solutions, a nonprofit job board and consulting firm dedicated to advancing career success for people with disabilities. We partner with employers to demonstrate the real business value of hiring and retaining talent from the disability community. Join us for honest conversations and bold perspectives on what true disability inclusion looks like in today’s workplace.

Notes: 

Living Unlimbited Podcast

What does it really take to build long‑term disability inclusion at work—and how do organizations know if their efforts are actually working?

In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims is joined by Erin McCann, PR Compliance Manager at Roche Diagnostics, for a practical conversation on tracking disability inclusion through self‑identification, Section 503 data, and employee retention.

Together, they explore why disability self‑ID campaigns must be ongoing rather than one‑time initiatives, how Section 503’s 7% utilization goal should be used as a strategic benchmark—not a quota—and what disability data can reveal about barriers across the employee lifecycle. Erin also shares real‑world insights on retention, challenging the myth that accommodations are costly and highlighting how inclusive workplaces often see stronger engagement and longer tenure among employees with disabilities.

The episode offers actionable guidance for employers looking to improve their data practices by building psychological safety, protecting privacy, and shifting toward a culture of trust and transparency.

Whether you’re a federal contractor, HR leader, or inclusion practitioner, this episode offers clear takeaways on how tracking disability data can drive smarter strategy, stronger retention, and more meaningful inclusion.

Disability@Work is produced by Disability Solutions, a nonprofit job board and consulting firm focused on advancing career success for people with disabilities. We partner with employers to highlight the business value of hiring and retaining top talent from the disability community. Tune in for fresh conversations and bold perspectives on disability inclusion in the workplace.

Ableism is deeply embedded in the tech industry—but it doesn’t have to be.

In this episode of Disability@Work, Ashley Sims is joined by Jacqueline and Alexa Child, sisters and co-founders of Dateability, the first dating app built specifically for people with disabilities. Together, they unpack ableism in tech, why accessibility is still treated as an afterthought, and how inclusive design benefits everyone. The conversation also explores disability representation in startups, barriers to VC funding for disabled founders, and what it takes to build accessible technology from the ground up.

This episode is a must-listen for tech leaders, designers, founders, and anyone committed to disability inclusion, accessible design, and equitable innovation.

Disability@Work is a production of Disability Solutions, a non-profit job board and consulting firm dedicated to helping people with disabilities achieve career success—partnering with corporate employers to help them understand the value in hiring and retaining top talent from the disability community. Tune in for fresh conversations and bold perspectives on disability inclusion. 

In this episode of Disability@Work, Ashley Sims discusses a growing trend: DEI language quietly being removed from federal websites and Fortune 100 companies. With terms like equity, inclusion, and even disability disappearing from public materials, what does this shift mean for accessibility, workplace culture, and disability inclusion efforts?

Ashley explores reporting from The New York Times and HR Brew, explains how language changes shape priorities and accountability, and shares practical steps for advocates to keep disability visible even as organizations back away from DEI messaging. Language is power—and protecting it protects progress.

Disability@Work is a production of Disability Solutions, a non-profit job board and consulting firm dedicated to helping people with disabilities achieve career success—partnering with corporate employers to help them understand the value in hiring and retaining top talent from the disability community. 

Tune in for fresh conversations and bold perspectives on disability inclusion. Host Ashley Sims explores the cultural, social, and systemic factors that shape access, opportunity, and equity for people with disabilities. Whether you’re an employer, advocate, or ally, this podcast gives you quick, practical insights to help build a more inclusive world.