There is real value and a business case for inclusion.
Frankly I shouldn’t have to point this fact out. It is a no brainer ??. But if you don't believe me check these out; WEF (weforum.org) and in 2018 Accenture, Disability: IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities undertook study and research into the companies embracing best practices for employing and supporting more persons with disabilities in their workforce.
“Persons with disabilities present business and industry with unique opportunities in labor-force diversity and corporate culture, and they’re a large consumer market eager to know which businesses authentically support their goals and dreams.
~ Ted Kennedy, Jr., Disabilities Rights Attorney, Connecticut State Senator and Board Chair, American Association of People with Disabilities
In the numbers:
45 companies identified as standing out for their leadership in areas specific to disability employment and inclusion had, on average over the 4 yr period:
- ?? 28% higher revenue
- 2 X the net income
- 30% higher economic profit margins than their peers.
- Potential boost of up to US$25 billion if more persons with disabilities joined the labor force.
- ??From a customer perspective, given 15% of the population is disabled, this represents an $8tn spending power
What others are doing:
A growing number of prominent companies have reformed their HR processes to access neurodiverse talent. Some start ups have turned the business model on its head and employee an all autistic workforce.
Among them SAP, Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ford, and EY. Many others, including Caterpillar, Dell Technologies, Deloitte, IBM, and UBS, have start-up or exploratory efforts under way. Find out more here!
Microsoft has built a successful disability hiring program specific to people on the autism spectrum. We have seen the successful rise of companies like Ultranauts and Auticon staffed entirely by autistic employees offering technical and consultancy services. EY have set up neurodiverse centres of excellence and SAP have an autism at work program. An increase in foundations and charities like Spectrum Fusion, Specialisterne and Ambitious About Autism with the purpose and goal of enabling meaningful employment for people on the autism spectrum.
Bottom Line:
The numbers speak for themselves. If there ever was a time, now is the time to change, open our minds, embrace and lean in to the difference. It feels uncomfortable, unusual, unconventional even, but nothing ever good comes from easy.
#autismacceptance #talent #innovation #creativity #inclusion #reimaginingpeople #neurodiversitymatters