Workplace wellness programs are increasingly popular, offering employees a range of classes, tools, and incentives to encourage them to set and meet goals for physical and mental health. Employees with disabilities may face barriers to participating in these programs, such as access to audio or video information in online classes or inaccessible fitness facilities or tracking apps. They may also have concerns about typical wellness goals’ applicability and appropriateness for their circumstances or having to disclose information about their disability to participate.

When we were invited to join the planning committee for our workplace wellness program, we turned to the NIDILRR grantee community for research and resources to help plan a program that would welcome and support our diverse organization.

• The LiveWell App Factory has a curated list of mHealth apps and wearables that have been tested, reviewed, and rated by consumers with disabilities.
  • The App Factory has supported the development of apps and activity monitors that support the fitness goals of people with a wide range of abilities. These include:
    • Sensoria Walk supports people with slow gait, such as those with neuromuscular disorders or stroke, or those recovering from accident or surgery.
    • PT Buddy guides users through setting up and practicing various upper and lower limb exercises.
    • SCI-Ex promotes fitness for people with spinal cord injury.
    • BreatheWell Wear assists people with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder in managing stress through diaphragmatic breathing.
  • Do you have an idea for a fitness app or wearable? Learn about how the App Factory supports developers in understanding accessibility and usability issues people with disabilities may encounter.
• The Northeast ADA Regional Center explored factors which facilitate and impede in worksite wellness programs in Disability and Health Journal (available to order from NARIC under Accession Number J73096).
• The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities devoted an issue of the journal Impact to supporting wellness for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the professionals who support their independence, including advocating for inclusive wellness opportunities and current laws around workplace wellness programs.
• The RRTC on Community Living and Participation of Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses hosted a webinar, So You Wanna Host an Activity Fair? They discussed their experience in promoting community activity among people with psychiatric disabilities and encouraging community organizations to be welcoming and inclusive.
• The Disability Employer Practices RRTC published Wellbeing as Workplace Culture: A Brief Examination of One Firm’s Approach to Changing its Landscape of Wellbeing (PDF) which looked at how a large company built a culture that encourages thriving.
• The Southwest ADA Regional Center conducted research on workplace wellness programs and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Watch their webinar on Wellness Programs and the ADA: The Intersection of the ADA and Employer-Sponsored Wellness Programs, Reasonable Accommodations, Medical Inquiries, Business Necessity, and Confidentiality.
  • Learn about their findings of barriers to participation in workplace wellness programs for people with disabilities in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (available to order from NARIC under Accession Number J91840).
• The ADA National Network can help employers who are interested in adding workplace wellness programs to understand their responsibilities under the ADA and related laws and regulations and support equitable participation of their employees with disabilities. Call 800/949-4232 or go online to connect to the center serving your community.

We also turned to these external resources for more information to help build our program:

• The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion hosted a webinar on Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace, and shared checklists, toolkits, and guides for employers.
• The National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability published Inclusive Worksite Wellness: Strategies for Including Employees of All Abilities in Wellness Initiatives (PDF), a guide offering a comprehensive examination of worksite wellness, and tips, strategies, and resources to ensure worksite wellness programs are inclusive of people with disabilities.
• The Office of Disability Employment Policy published Retaining Employees in Your Worksite Wellness Program (PDF), a toolkit to help employers involve employees with disabilities in planning program goals, activities, and incentives; help employees aging into disability; and encourage participation.

Our workplace wellness program is just getting underway, but we hope that everyone feels welcome to participate at their level and set and meet their personal wellness goals.