WGU Labs Invests in Making Space to Lower Employment Barriers for Disabled Talent
2024年7月31日 - 12:55AM
WGU Labs, the research, development and investment arm of Western
Governors University (WGU), has invested in Making Space, a talent
acquisition and learning platform dedicated to creating a more
equitable and accessible future of work for Disabled talent. This
investment aims to support the transition from learning to work by
lowering barriers to employment for Disabled applicants across the
country while diversifying talent pools at WGU.
Making Space addresses Disabled worker unemployment through
free, employer-backed education and advanced technology to expand
recruitment. Unlike traditional onboarding, which occurs after a
hire is made, Making Space provides a pre-employment curriculum
composed of industry and role-specific learning modules, along with
training on available disability services. This comprehensive
approach aims to diversify the workforce and establish benchmarks
for inclusive employment to ensure that motivated and qualified
talent, who might otherwise be overlooked, are well-prepared for
employment opportunities.
“Making Space looks forward to building a stronger bridge for
Disabled applicants seeking a role at WGU,” said founder and CEO
Keely Cat-Wells. “By enhancing the existing training provided by
WGU with job-specific learning that Disabled applicants need before
considering a role, Making Space is developing new pathways to
employment and career advancement through accessible, skill-based,
and employer-supported education.”
WGU Labs will facilitate a one-year pilot with WGU aimed at
lowering barriers to employment for Disabled people and seeks to
support recruitment for high-volume roles at WGU. The pilot will
also work to determine if promoting a combination of flexible and
individualized work settings will attract more Disabled
applicants.
“Making Space, the winner of WGU Labs’ 2024 Accelerator
Pitch Competition, is set to help WGU explore better ways to
support people with disabilities in seeking employment at our
institution,” said Debbie Fowler, senior vice president of academic
delivery at WGU. “At WGU, we believe in the inherent worth and
ability of every individual and the transformative power of
education. Through this pilot, we hope to identify applicants who
meet hiring criteria, but may need extra support and resources to
navigate and succeed in the job application process.”
This pilot hopes to uncover ways to attract more Disabled
applicants, aligning with WGU’s mission to transform lives by
creating pathways to opportunity, and its promise to create
meaningful, diverse, inclusive, and rewarding work experiences.
“In 2023, the average annual employment rate for people with
disabilities was only 22.5 percent, compared to 65.8 percent for
people without disabilities,” said Jason Levin, executive director
of WGU Labs. “Through our investment with Making Space and other
initiatives to support people furthest from opportunity, WGU Labs
aims to build a future where all individuals have equitable access
to educational and career success”
Making Space represents the 27th investment for the Accelerator
at WGU Labs since its inception in 2019. To learn more about the
Accelerator and its partners, visit
https://wgulabs.org/accelerator/.
About Making SpaceMaking Space is a talent
acquisition and learning experience platform that enables companies
to train, access, and retain pre-qualified Disabled talent. Its
mission is to create meaningful careers for Disabled people and
provide the necessary resources for them to become influential
leaders. Making Space offers accessible skill-based learning for
talent sourcing, career advancement and mobility, boosting
productivity and delivering clear ROI for employers. Their model
improves key metrics like time-to-hire, quality of hire, retention
rates, and employee performance. Learn more at making-space.com or
follow them on LinkedIn or Instagram.
About WGU LabsWGU Labs is the nonprofit EdTech
consulting, incubation, research, and design arm of Western
Governors University, where our mission is to identify and support
scalable solutions that address the biggest challenges in education
today.The Accelerator at WGU Labs provides research, market
development, and product enhancement services to early-stage
education businesses. Through these services, as well as financial
investments, the Accelerator advances the scale and impact of
education companies that share its mission to increase student
access, lower student costs, and improve student outcomes. Learn
more at wgulabs.org or follow us on LinkedIn.
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Natalie Berkey
WGU Labs
385-428-9425
natalie.berkey@wgu.edu