This National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Public Consulting Group (PCG) celebrates the value and talent that workers with disabilities add to our workplace and community.

Disability workplace inclusion is a key strategic priority for PCG’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and 2024 has been a milestone year for us in this space. From being recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion to forming an employee-driven Disability Inclusion Committee to participating in Disability:IN’s NextGen Leader Mentorship Program, we have been making significant strides toward creating an inclusive and accessible environment for people of all abilities.

In honor of this year’s NDEAM theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All,” we are reflecting on themes that we have gleaned from our disability inclusion journey.

Theme #1: Accessibility is for Everyone

Accessibility is more than just adhering to guidelines; it’s about transforming guidelines into real, impactful actions. By raising awareness, addressing obstacles, and empowering accessibility programs and initiatives, we can create an environment where all our employees and clients can excel.

“Accessibility is a fundamental aspect of my team’s DNA, ensuring our message reaches and resonates with all members of the diverse communities we serve. We put time and energy into understanding the rapidly evolving landscape of accessibility features integrated into everyday tools, securing our communication deliverables remain at the forefront of inclusivity. By prioritizing accessibility in everything we produce, we demonstrate to our clients, and to the communities they serve, their needs matter and deserve our utmost attention. Ultimately, our focus on accessibility is a crucial way we champion greater engagement in the impactful programs and initiatives our clients bring to our team.”

–Robbie Conrad, Aging & Disability Team, Human Services

Theme #2: The Importance of Allyship and Advocacy

Allyship and advocacy play vital roles in fostering an inclusive workplace environment. By understanding the needs of our employees and clients and recognizing areas for improvement, we can create an environment that enhances belonging and success. Effective advocacy is intentional and accountable, and its impact resonates throughout the entire company.

“As a deaf person, having allies around me to support the challenges I might encounter daily opens my eyes to how I, too, can become an ally to others in need. Allyship to me means not only listening to others, but truly trying to understand and take action to advocate on their behalf in the company and community. Feeling supported in an environment that promotes inclusiveness for everyone is something we all should experience. It starts with me and being the best ally I can be to others.”

–Nicolle Suvada, Vice President, Technology Consulting

PCG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council Member

Theme #3: Focus on Creating a Path Forward

Creating an inclusive workplace is an ongoing, collective journey. We are proud that our efforts thus far have been driven by enthusiastic support from employees and leadership, but we also recognize that there is much more to do. As PCG moves forward, we’re focused on listening to our community, taking meaningful actions, and documenting our journey. Integrating disability inclusion into our daily practices and company ethos is not just a goal—it’s a commitment.

“The collective efforts to advance disability workplace inclusion at PCG over the past few years has empowered us to continue our targeted initiatives. We just launched our Disability ERG, which is a significant mile marker for us, and we are excited to welcome employees into this community and support their engagement efforts. Additional next steps include furthering PCG's commitment to digital accessibility, embracing it as a business benefit for our employees and providing our employees support as they continue to serve our clients' accessibility needs and build out the competitive edge in areas of accessibility. Additionally, the Office of DEI will continue to offer the popular disability inclusion training series for our people managers, with this year’s focus on the interactive process.”

–Jessica Heron, DEI Lead, Office of DEI

Learn more about PCG’s DEI journey here.