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The 2024 Paris Olympics stood as a compelling showcase of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in action. Throughout the games, the spotlight shone brightly on the power of embracing differences, shattering stereotypes, and fostering an environment where every participant competes on an equal footing.
In honor of the Olympics, Schneider Electric’s Houston office hosted the “Office Olympics”. This two-day event delved into the realm of disability awareness within the workplace. It was an immersive experience, thoughtfully crafted to nurture a deeper understanding of the daily realities faced by individuals with disabilities. Employees participated in interactive games and challenges that included elements of disability simulation. The event both ignited healthy competition and served as an enlightening educational journey fostering empathy and heightened awareness.
Working together – creating olympians
At Schneider Electric, we promote and respect the rights of people with disabilities by raising awareness and tackling the stigma and stereotypes faced by people with disabilities. We foster equal treatment and equal opportunities for people with disabilities and are working to build an inclusive culture for all abilities. Among the many Employee Resource Networks (ERNs) within Schneider Electric, the Disability, Accessibility, and Allies (DAA) group focuses on continuing this effort with an expansion into specific chapters supporting Persons with Disabilities and Caregivers to offer an all-encompassing support team.
Employee Resource Networks (ERNs) collaborate to raise awareness
The Emerging Professionals Network (EPN), in collaboration with employee Ulric Roy from the DAA ERN, organized the two-day “Office Olympics” event aimed at fostering disability awareness among employees. The event focused on providing participants with a deeper understanding of the daily experiences of individuals with disabilities. This was achieved through a series of interactive games and challenges, each incorporating elements of disability simulation, such as wheelchair use. The event was designed not only as a competitive series but also as an educational experience to build empathy and awareness.
Special thanks to the Houston EPN and Cool Sites Team for putting on this event, and to employee Edwin Wande for leading the planning and execution of the event with the groups.
Event schedule: Let the games begin!
Day 1 Events – Wednesday, August 7th: 10 am to 2 pm
The first day featured a series of team-based activities, each with built-in disability simulations to challenge participants.
- Pickleball (Doubles)
- Teams: Each team selected their best two players.
- Objective: A fast-paced game where teams competed in doubles matches.
- Disability Simulation: Although not explicitly stated, future events could incorporate modified equipment or rules to simulate playing with a physical impairment.
- Cornhole (Doubles)
- Teams: Each team selected their best two players.
- Objective: A classic lawn game where teams competed by tossing bean bags into a target hole.
- Disability Simulation: Similar to pickleball, future adaptations might involve participants using devices like wheelchairs or playing with one hand to simulate physical restrictions.
- Team Speed Race
- Teams: Each team selected their best six players.
- Objective: A relay race where speed and coordination were key.
- Disability Simulation: One team member per team was required to participate using a regular chair, simulating a mobility impairment.
Fairness Consideration: To ensure fairness across all teams, it was mandatory for one member from each team to compete using a regular chair, adding a layer of challenge that required teams to strategize effectively.
Day 2 Events – Thursday, August 8th: 10 am to 2 pm
The second day included a new set of challenges, continuing the theme of disability awareness.
- Putt Putt
- Teams: Each team selected their best golfer.
- Objective: A mini-golf challenge focusing on precision and control.
- Disability Simulation: Future events could incorporate challenges such as visually impaired putting or using modified clubs to simulate physical limitations.
- Ping Pong (Doubles)
- Teams: Each team selected their best two players.
- Objective: A doubles ping pong match requiring quick reflexes and coordination.
- Disability Simulation: This event could also be adapted in the future, perhaps by requiring participants to use their non-dominant hand or play from a seated position.
- Wheelchair Relay Race
- Teams: Each team selected their best four players.
- Objective: A relay race with all participants using wheelchairs, focusing on speed, agility, and teamwork.
- Disability Simulation: This event was specifically designed to give participants a direct experience of the challenges faced by wheelchair users.
Fairness Consideration: The organizer, to ensure an equitable experience, used a regular wheelchair, maintaining the integrity of the disability simulation across all participants.
Conclusion and future considerations
Participating in the “Office Olympics” is not just about fun! The event was a significant step toward increasing disability awareness in the workplace. By engaging employees in activities that simulate the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, the event promoted empathy, understanding, and teamwork.
For future events, the organizers have expressed interest in expanding the range of disability simulations. Potential additions could include:
- Sensory Challenges: Activities designed to simulate sensory impairments, such as navigating with blindfolds to simulate vision impairment or using noise-canceling headphones to simulate hearing loss.
- Vision Challenges: Specific games or tasks where participants must rely on other senses or assistive devices to complete tasks typically requiring sight.
These enhancements would provide a more holistic view of the diverse challenges faced by people with disabilities, further enriching the learning experience for participants.
By continuously evolving and expanding these events, the EPN and DAA ERNs can foster a more inclusive and empathetic workplace culture, where all employees are better equipped to understand and support their colleagues with disabilities.
Host your own Office Olympics!
We hope you enjoyed reading about the Office Olympics. If you’re an external reader working in an office environment, we encourage you to host your own office Olympics!
If you’re an internal employee interested in getting involved, we encourage you to join the Disability, Accessibility, and Allies (DAA) group!
Learn more about Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric offers many other Employee Resource Network communities that are built to support and celebrate all employees. ERNs focus on a wide range of topics such as gender diversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, sustainability, cultural diversity, and more.
Learn more about Schneider Electric Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives and policies.
Search for jobs and opportunities and join our talent community.
About the authors
This blog was co-authored by Janelle Morris (Marketing Communication Manager and Channel Development for North America, Pro-face by Schneider Electric), Ulric Roy (Distinguished Application Engineer), and Kristen Larsen (Employer Brand Specialist).
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