Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month: The Power of Inclusive Employment
We are thrilled to celebrate the 81st anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. At Best Buddies Jobs, we consistently seek out opportunities to celebrate the value people with disabilities bring to the workplace. At Best Buddies, we strive to see the individual. We look beyond what’s on paper to see the value in their character, lived experience, unique skill, and the way they make others feel. Everyone we work with brings a special set of skills and strengths to their role and workplace. By hiring someone from our program, employers have the opportunity to see the power of inclusive hiring firsthand. In an increasingly automated hiring process, we want to make sure we don’t automate the human out of hiring. When employers take the time to see the whole person, they can discover strengths, perspectives and contributions that might otherwise be overlooked and build stronger, more inclusive workplaces in the process.
There is a massive talent pool of individuals ready, willing, and able to work right now. According to the National Core Indicators, more than 80% of adults with Intellectual and development disabilities are unemployed. This means many employers and managers may not have had the opportunity to work alongside or supervise someone with a disability. It is okay to have questions, to learn, and to adjust your approach to supervision and support. What matter is being willing to take the first step. At Best Buddies, we work with companies to identify meaningful, integrated employment that aligns with the individual’s skill, interests, and goals. Today more than 1100 people are employed through Best Buddies Jobs across the United States, with more than 300 job seekers actively looking for employment. We are opening new doors, bringing on new partners, and setting employees and employers up for success. This NDEAM, we encourage our community to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of our colleagues with disabilities while recognizing not only how far we’ve come, but how much more there is to do. Consider hiring someone with a disability and see firsthand what they can bring to your workplace. Because everyone should have the chance to work, to find purpose, and to contribute to society.
Throughout October, our #WorkplaceWednesday series will share stories of employees, employers, and partnerships showing what inclusive employment looks like in action.
Ready to build a more inclusive workplace? Hire a Best Buddy.
Partner with Best Buddies Jobs to connect with talented job seekers who are ready to bring their skills, perspectives, and strengths to your workplace.
