No legs, no walking.
No running, no jumping.
No medals. No victories.
Poor disabled guy?
Well, that depends on how you look at it.
* December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities *⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
According to the World Bank, over one billion people live with some form of disability. 80% live in developing countries. One billion people equals 15% of the world population and that’s a huge number!
Diversity and inclusion are an increasingly important issue for many businesses. However, diversity programs usually focus on equal opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, people of different ages and backgrounds and in some cases, LGBT workers. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Most companies seem to forget about people with disabilities. ⠀
This is a lost opportunity.
Research shows: businesses who prioritize diversity and inclusion are more innovative, are better at decision-making and in many cases, make more profits.
They also attract more talents, since they are being considered better places to work. Especially Milennials and Gen Z job seekers are looking for companies that do not just pay lip service to social responsibility but incorporate it in the core of their organization.
This implies a mindset shift that unfortunately is not yet generalized across sectors and across countries. Today is a great opportunity to remind ourselves as businesses that it’s worth the effort to reach out to differently abled persons to make them part of our work force, our supply chains, and our customer base. If we don’t, our so-called Diversity and Inclusion policies will be… well, not that inclusive really.
Being a purpose-driven business means taking different decisions.
So, instead of always putting efficiency gains first, focus on empowerment.
Instead of stubbornly striving to reduce risks, focus on increasing opportunities.
And instead of constantly worrying about business costs, proudly prioritize the creation of value, not only for your business but also for society.
