Episodes

AI is transforming hiring, but is it helping employers find the best talent or creating new barriers for qualified candidates? In this episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims explores the growing reliance on AI hiring tools and the risks that come with automated screening, sourcing, and candidate ranking. Building on insights shared by Beverly Dines, COO of Foxsy and Founder of Beverlytics Consultancy, the conversation examines Stanford research showing how AI hiring systems can unintentionally reinforce systemic bias and filter out talented candidates before a human ever reviews their application. While much of the discussion around AI hiring focuses on job seekers, this episode shifts the spotlight to employers and talent acquisition teams facing overwhelming application volumes and increasing pressure to hire efficiently. Ashley discusses practical strategies organizations can use to balance efficiency with equity, including rethinking what it means to be qualified, audi…

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…

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 fo…

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.

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.

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 sou…

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 abo...

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 …

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 pra…

Ableism is deeply embedded in the tech industry—but it doesn’t have to be. In our latest episode of Disability@Work, host Ashley Sims sits down with Jacqueline and Alexa Child, founders of Dateability, the first dating app built specifically for people with disabilities. Together, they unpack: - How ableism shows up in tech design - Why accessibility is still treated as an afterthought - What it takes to build truly inclusive products - The funding barriers disabled founders face—and how they pushed through

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?