Our Mission
The Sierra Group is driven by a drive to make a significant and meaningful difference in people’s lives. We do that by Motivating a Movement to end workplace exclusion for people with disabilities in order to drive up employment for Americans with disabilities and to serve organizations with the same desire to impact lives.
Our Method
The Hierarchy of Inclusion is a methodology that aims to end workplace exclusion for Americans with disabilities. Our proven method can be used to address accommodation both individually and systemically through planned accessibility of physical and digital spaces, processes and procedures.
Your Success
Sierra brings creative solutions to all types of work environments, which are adaptable for any type of disability, including any degree of physical, cognitive, intellectual disability as well as any work related accommodations needed due to mental illness or chronic conditions.
THE SIERRA GROUP
Achieve Your Inclusion Goals
Experience Matters
The Sierra Group helps organizations achieve Inclusion goals, meet ADA and OFCCP compliance standards and benefit from the talents of workers with Disabilities.
Since 1992, we’ve been committed to making a significant and noticeable difference in the lives of the business professionals, individuals, educational institutions and vocational rehab professionals who honor us with their business. Our services can help you in your journey to recognize, learn, implement, or motivate as you approach your own Diversity, Equity & Inclusion competency goals.
Together we will include the 61 million Americans living and working with disabilities as they strive to reach their career goals.
Janet Fiore
CEO, The Sierra Group, Inc.
President, The Sierra Group Foundation
Janet Fiore, CEO of The Sierra Group
Janet Fiore, a national authority on disability, diversity and compliance policy and procedure for business, is the President and CEO of The Sierra Group. She’s an award-winning speaker and consultative trainer who routinely provides media input as well as testimony for Congress, the GSA and the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a woman with numerous disabilities, Janet combines her business and rehabilitation expertise, along with her own professional and personal accommodation experiences in order to ‘drive up’ employment success for all of her customers.
Every day we set out to find at least ‘one more way’ to drive up employment for Americans with Disabilities.For adults with disabilities seeking employment, Fiore founded a computer and business communications training program that serves all of Pennsylvania and beyond.
Sierra’s History Follows Legislative History
In 1990, The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into Law, thus driving the formation of Sierra Group
1992 - The Sierra Group was formed
In 1992, Rehab Act Amendments mandated people with most significant disabilities be served first by State VR agencies.
The Sierra Group was formed to Provide Assistive Technology to job seekers with significant disabilities and to consult and train American businesses on the employment title of the ADA.
In 1998, Sec 508 Federal law Requiring US Government agencies provide equal access to electronic information technology.
Sierra Group wins contract to train GSA procurement officials in awareness and use of AT devices to comply with this digital inclusion requirement.
1999 ~ 2013 - Sierra’s ADA and accommodation services for business grow exponentially.
In 2009, The ADAAA Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 becomes law conforming the meaning of term disability with Section 504 of the Rehab Act, thereby ruling “in” more people with disabilities as covered employees.
Sierra launches The Sierra Group Academy and offers assistive tech services in 22 counties and recognized as an innovative leader for disability inclusion and advocacy through community involvement, legislative actions, public speaking, and award recognition.
In 2013, US Dept. of Labor’s OFCCP sets a 7% Rule that established trackable goals to require Federal Government to be intentional about recruiting, hiring and retaining workers with disabilities .
Sierra Group launches RecruitDisability job board and expands on-call accommodations services for organizations charged with meeting diverse recruitment goals.
2018 ~ 2023 - Sierra responds to the marketplace
Digital Accessibility for users with disabilities grows due to WCAG guidelines, court decisions and the DOJ Ruling website accessibility cause newfound energy to by business and government to adhere to fully inclusive worksites and tools. Sierra continues to expand its legislative led demands with learn as you go professional development tools for recruiters, managers and line workers.
Sierra launches a 360 Collaborative providing Accommodation and Digital Accessibility tools for equality in every workplace.
THE SIERRA GROUP DOES THINGS DIFFERENTLY
The Hierarchy Of Inclusion
The Sierra Group is your 360° Resource For All Aspects of Disability Inclusion
Recognize
Gain basic disability etiquette and awareness online at your own pace while motivating a movement for deeper workplace inclusion for those with disabilities.
Learn to Accommodate
Once a baseline of understanding is achieved, it’s time to develop skills that broaden your ability to include, interview, and onboard more candidates with disabilities. Successful accommodation multiplies opportunities for people with disabilities.
Implement
The Sierra Group offers one-on-one consulting, along with accommodation experts and coaches who will guide you through workplace compliance that leads to increased productivity and superior diversity outcomes.
Motivate
With successful implementation, your organization joins with thousands of others who are committed to Motivating a Movement to end workplace exclusion for people with disabilities.
Schedule A Consultation
The Sierra Group Will Help You Achieve Your Inclusion Goals in everything from etiquette and sensitivity to empowered actions for inclusive results.
TESTIMONIALS
We already do mandatory employee training for Unconscious Bias, but when it comes to Disability Etiquette, Sierra’s one-hour online course quickly changed our thinking and helped us recognize and address many unconscious disability biases that are the result of limited exposure on these topics as they relate to disability.
Gina, Diversity & Inclusion Manager
National Manufacturing Company
As the Program Analyst for the IDS department and coordinator for our Communications Champions Committee we were pleased to host an airing of DisabilityEtiquette© for Everyone. This program was so well received by our membership that we brought Sierra Group back for further training!
Cheryl, Program Analyst
Intellectual disAbility Services
Changing HOW you recognize and accommodate more workers with disabilities seems daunting unless you find the right training method for yourself and your team. Sierra’s courses are easy to access 24/7 at my convenience. The stories and resource examples stick with you! Our accessible recruiting results improved immediately.
Ellen, Chief Recruiting Officer
Technology Industry
As a consultant for accessible technology and a user of screen readers myself, I highly recommend the course on DisabilityEtiquette© for Everyone to anyone looking to understand the big picture elements that surround the topic of disability and inclusion.
Suzanne, Consultant
Accessible Technology & AT User
The DisabilityRecruiter© Certification course is cost effective and easy to complete. This wasn't a quick overview; I actually learned how to meet my disability inclusion goals.
Darlene, Talent Acquisition Manager
Human Resources
The DisabilityEtiquette Course sets out an approachable degree of information that I wish, was taught to every college freshman studying Arts & Humanities, or HR! Memorable stories with grassroots appeal and resources I can use. The Digital Accessibility section was a bonus that I didn’t even expect!
Katie, Community and Officer Manager
Human Resources
My background is HR and I'm currently in education. I was surprised at how much I learned that I was not aware of! The stories and information from people with disabilities is very meaningful and memorable.
Jane S., Online Learning Instructor
Human Resourses
DisabilityEtiquette© for Everyone is a must for anyone who is in the working world interacting with other people. In a little less than an hour - the time it takes to complete this online course - I learned so much with regard to talking with and about people with disabilities, in spite of my more than 30 years in the HR profession.
Pat, Co-Founder
Talent Strategy Partners