Designing Inclusive Apprenticeships

A Guide for Recruiting & Training Apprentices with Disabilities

3 circles connected by arrows. A person typing on a laptop, an instructor teaching a class, and a factory worker teaching an apprentice

Phase 1: Recruiting Talent with Disabilities

Phase 2: Creating Inclusive Classroom Instruction

Phase 3: Designing Inclusive on-the-job training

Whether you’re ready to recruit people with disabilities to join your apprenticeship program, seeking information on best practices to launch an inclusive apprenticeship program, or simply searching for best practices to make your program more accessible, this guide provides tools to support your success.

Did you know?

It makes good business sense to ensure all aspects of your apprenticeship program are inclusive and accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities, who make up 26% of adults in the United States.

Why use this guide?

The guide is designed to help apprenticeship intermediaries and employers create more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible apprenticeship programs. It includes recommendations, resources, and accessibility considerations to effectively source, engage, and support apprentices with disabilities.

Three Phases of Designing Inclusive Apprenticeship:

There are a variety of approaches to creating successful inclusive apprenticeship programs. PIA developed this guide to provide a simple approach that can be used by any apprenticeship intermediary or employer.

How do I use it?

The guide is organized in a sequential order, but not all phases will be applicable to every apprenticeship intermediary or employer. Review the phases in the order that best fits the needs of your apprenticeship program.

Click on any of the phases in the graphic below to learn more about how to design and execute an inclusive apprenticeship program.