National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Learn From Northwestern Medicine Team Members

Members of the Northwestern Medicien Champion Network Disability Chapter are helping lead the charge to create a comfortable and accessible work environment for everyone.

“Accessibility helps everyone, regardless of disability status,” explains Trish Kautenberger, manager, Access, who is chair of the Disability Chapter. “It’s not a niche thing — it’s about designing buildings, tools and processes in a way that benefits us all.”

Advocating for Accessibility

People with disabilities often experience obstacles, such as physical barriers, stigmas or lack of accommodations, that can negatively impact their patient experience, health and well-being.

Dawn M. Rose, JD, program manager, Neurological Surgery, is the vice chair of the Disability Chapter. She says access to care is a main obstacle for people with disabilities, and there is a need for care teams with specialized knowledge or training in health conditions related to disabilities or with patients who have multiple disabilities.

“Making care accessible in communities is really critical to people’s ability to just survive,” Rose says. “We need medical spaces to be welcoming and to meet people where they are, no matter what they might be dealing with.”

Northwestern Medicine has been repeatedly named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. Explore open roles now and join an organization where you and your experiences are valued and celebrated.