by
Shaun Heasley | January 15, 2020
A
federal office dedicated to promoting community living is putting up big money
to help businesses find and implement innovative ways to increase employment for
people with disabilities.
The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community
Living is asking employers to come up with new ideas to incorporate those with
disabilities — especially people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
— into the workforce.
Through
a competition, businesses have the opportunity to win up to $100,000 to help
them put their models into practice.
“With this challenge, ACL is seeking
commitments from businesses to include employees with disabilities,
particularly with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in their
inclusion and diversity efforts and their talent pipeline programs,” organizers
said. “Ultimately, the workforce pipelines proposed here will enable businesses
to benefit from the talents of a wider, more diverse workforce and ensure more
Americans with disabilities are able to advance and compete in the future
economy.”
The
Administration for Community Living said it’s looking for “innovative workforce
pipelines” that use non-traditional methods to redefine career development and
address the employment barriers facing people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. Employers should plan to include people with
disabilities in testing their models and all ideas should lead to competitive,
integrated employment, officials said.
Those
behind the challenge note that companies that employ people with disabilities
report higher revenues, bigger profit margins, better morale and greater retention
rates, but many businesses don’t know where to start.
Federal
officials said they hope that models developed and refined through the
competition can be replicated by other employers.
Businesses
have through Feb. 14 to submit proposals for the competition, which will
ultimately dole out $380,000 in cash prizes to winners over the course of three
phases.
https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2020/01/15/feds-incentivize-disability-hiring/27654/
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