Expert Forum

The once-popular phrase was “Hire the Handicapped.” Its tone was pretty undeniable: since having a disability is such an unfortunate thing, we should give those poor people jobs as a socially-charitable gesture. The underlying message is that compassionate generosity should be the core drive for employing people with disabilities. Employers should make the sacrifice because it’s the right thing to do. Read more

The current process of people with disabilities dramatically emerging into society didn’t happen thanks to the charitable generosity of others. It didn’t happen because enlightened policymakers saw the value of investing in accessibility and civil rights. It didn’t happen because business saw an untapped talent pool or a market of unspent disposable income. It didn’t happen because family members and clinicians could see firsthand that people were being unnecessarily denied their quality of life. Read more

As people with disabilities continue to take their place on the diversity spectrum, there are some unique characteristics worth considering that set them apart from other segments. The first is that people with disabilities are not just part of the diversity spectrum, they contain the diversity spectrum. Race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation —people with disabilities parallel the general population in their own complete diversity.  Read more

Is it fair to say that to succeed in business you must keep a clear view of the environment surrounding your organization? You need to understand the current state of your market, your clientele, and keep your eyes peeled for any resources which will help you achieve your goals.  Read more

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. My fear is that, for many employers, NDEAM echoes the clarion call that I heard growing up in the sixties: “Hire the Handicapped.” That sounded like employers were expected to go out of their way to hire disabled people as a kind of sacrifice for the greater social good. The sacrifice being that they might not be as productive, but it’s the right thing to do. Read more