Roddey Or Not, Work Has to Change Artwork

Twenty-First Century Disability

Let's be honest. Life with a disability can be difficult. Luckily, we are living in the twenty-first century. This podcast is about how living in the modern world has helped people with disabilities to have fairly "normal" lives. Join me as we explore why this is and as I try to look at disability from a social model perspective and change how the world sees disability.

All Episodes

Twenty-First Century Disability

Roddey Or Not, Work Has to Change

May 05, 2026 • Hollis Peirce • Season 5 • Episode 8

0:00 | 37:09

Send us Fan Mail

Guest: Roddey Harb

Length: 37:09

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Roddey Harb discusses how big businesses are adapting—or still need to adapt—to create accessible offices. He notes that accessibility is not a single checklist item or a one-time accommodation, but an ongoing process of listening, responding, and changing how work is designed.

As a change management consultant, Roddey helps employees navigate new policies, technologies, programs, and expectations. He explains that disabled people are especially skilled at this work because navigating inaccessible systems builds adaptability, problem-solving, resilience, and communication. These are the same skills organizations often look for when they are trying to guide teams through uncertainty or transformation.

The conversation also explores mandatory in-office work and the barriers it can create, especially around commuting. In cities like Toronto and during Canadian winters, snow, ice, inaccessible transit, unsafe sidewalks, blocked curb cuts, parking barriers, and unpredictable weather can make travel unsafe. For many disabled employees, simply getting to work can require extra time, planning, energy, and risk that employers may not always recognize.

Roddey’s reflections show that accessibility must go beyond office design to include commuting, safety, culture, flexibility, and hybrid work policies. True accessibility means considering the full employee experience, from leaving home to participating in meetings, collaborating with coworkers, and feeling included in workplace culture. His insights remind firms that flexible work is not just a convenience—it can be essential for equity, retention, and meaningful participation.

Key Topics Covered:
• Roddey Harb’s work in change management and accessible workplace practices• Why communication, adaptability, and lived disability experience are central to his work

• How mandatory in-office days and commuting create major barriers for disabled employees

• The risks of winter travel, inaccessible transit, parking, sidewalks, and curb cuts

• How workplace inaccessibility affects belonging, inclusion, safety, policy, culture, and flexibility

What You’ll Learn:
1)Change management helps workers adapt to new workplace systems, policies, and technologies.
2) Roddey explains how disabled people often develop strong adaptability skills through lived experience.
3)The episode discusses how major companies are improving accessibility, but still have gaps.
4)Mandatory office days can create barriers for disabled employees.
5)Commuting is a major issue, especially because of transit, parking, weather, snow, ice, and safety risks.
6)Accessibility is about more than the office — it includes flexibility, transportation, policy, communication, and belonging.

Resources & Links: