The UKG Events team partners with the Belonging, Equity, and Impact team and the ADAPT employee resource group to provide a more inclusive experience for all at UKG events.
When Amber, Sr. Manager, Learning Experience Design, was given the opportunity to plan UKG’s premier leadership event, VP Immersion, she knew it had to be inspirational in various aspects, but she also spotted it as a great opportunity to enhance accessibility and create a more inclusive event for all. As an active employee resource group (ERG) member, she connected with the Belonging, Equity, and Impact (BEI) team for guidance.
“I knew the BEI team had a great number of partnerships and sponsored conferences throughout the year,” Amber says. "I was looking for best practices we could leverage to enhance everyone’s experience. That is when I got connected to Disability:IN and their team helped bring in different ideas, and we had an amazing leadership event.”
Disability:IN and UKG have a long-standing partnership. Disability:IN is the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide and a catalyst for effective change for people with disabilities in business. Their vision is an inclusive global economy where people with disabilities participate fully and meaningfully. UKG is proud to score 100% on the Disability Equality Index for three years in a row and to be designated as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.
Amber’s innovative approach to making VP Immersion more accessible didn’t just improve that event — it sparked a companywide focus on accessibility at all UKG events. Her collaboration with Disability:IN and the BEI team highlighted the importance of inclusive planning, leading UKG to adopt accessibility best practices across future conferences. With the Disability:IN Conference approaching, the BEI team recognized an opportunity to extend this effort by inviting UKG’s marketing events leaders to attend, ensuring accessibility would be a priority for events moving forward and reaching attendees who hadn’t traditionally participated.
Transformative takeaways
Julie, Manager, Marketing Events, UKG, attended the conference to bring back different accessibility and inclusion tips for our customer events.
"My biggest takeaway from the conference was the etiquette session. The panelists had various disabilities and described what they encountered each day,” says Julie. “Their honesty and vulnerability were inspiring and taught us so much. Once we know better, we can do better each day. I am so thankful and humbled to have been able to attend this conference. I am a better ally as a result of what I learned and experienced."
When Julie returned from the conference, she knew she wanted to put many of the practices into action and shared her experience across multiple events teams within UKG, including the team responsible for our annual customer conference, Aspire.
Implementing change: ADAPT ERG leads the way to transform Aspire
The Aspire planning team turned to our ADAPT (Accessibility and Disability Allies Partner Together) ERG, which is often at the forefront of our disability inclusion strategies, to collaborate and make a more accessible event for all.
“When we’re thoughtful and inclusive in planning events, it means that our customers don’t need to request additional accommodations. We’ve already included them, and it not only shows our customers that they are truly invited and wanted, but that they belong. It’s part of making a wonderful experience that benefits everyone,” says Angela, Director of Accessibility and ADAPT co-chair.
Angela, along with Becky, Lead Accessibility Specialist, led the initiative, which included additional ADAPT members, and worked closely with the Aspire team to consider many aspects of the conference that could be enhanced for people with disabilities, as well as make it a more enjoyable conference for all.
Throughout the event, numerous improvements were implemented to enhance the experience of our attendees. These included scooter and wheelchair reservations, clearly marked signage indicating uneven flooring, and lockers to help those who found it challenging to carry items. Additional accommodations like a mother’s room and a meditation room were added to provide quiet spaces for those in need.
Further enhancements included live closed captioning for all general, keynote, and spotlight sessions to benefit those who are hard of hearing, deaf, or use English as a second language. Personal American Sign Language interpreters were also available. On-demand sessions included closed captioning in recorded playbacks. For those with low vision or blindness, personal visual guides were offered to assist throughout the event.
Enhancements were also made to the conference website to ensure accessibility for all. Updates included proper color contrast, simplified content, focus indicators for keyboard navigation, screen reader enhancements, and more. UKG also provides in-app recommendations for attendees with low vision or blindness to navigate the conference more easily using voice-guided assistance. While these changes benefit attendees with disabilities, they also create a more enjoyable and comfortable experience for everyone. In fact, 97% of our attendees expressed positive satisfaction with the inclusivity and accommodations at the conference.
Aspire is a wonderful opportunity for our UKG customers and partners to gather with the intention to collaborate, connect, and learn. With these changes at Aspire setting a new standard, UKG will continue expanding accessibility efforts across all future events. The partnership between the ADAPT ERG, the Belonging, Equity, and Impact Team, and the UKG Events team in taking accessibility to heart was a great success.
Looking ahead, UKG is dedicated to making accessibility a fundamental part of everything we do, from our products to our events. By continuing to innovate and remove barriers, UKG is not only creating a more inclusive environment within our company but also setting a new standard for the industry, ensuring that everyone — regardless of background or ability — can thrive in their unique way.