"HireAbility Georgia" to Educate Employers on Benefits of Hiring People with Developmental Disabilities

All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) has launched a new advocacy campaign, “HireAbility Georgia,” (http://HireAbilityGA.com) focused on educating employers across the state on the benefits of hiring people with developmental disabilities. The effort will seek to raise awareness of the issue in advance of the 2015 Georgia Legislative Session.

“Our state is in the midst of an economic recovery, but for people with developmental disabilities, finding employment can be extremely challenging,” said Kathy Keeley, executive director of All About Developmental Disabilities. “The unemployment rate for people with developmental disabilities is close to 80 percent. The HireAbility Georgia campaign will focus on changing that.”

HireAbility Georgia will work to educate employers across the state on the benefits – both to their business and to society at large – of employing individuals with developmental disabilities.

• Lower Turnover: Pizza Hut reported their turnover rate for people with disabilities was 20 percent, compared to 150 percent among employees without disabilities.
• Lower Rates of Absenteeism: Workers with developmental disabilities have much lower rates of absenteeism than the average, with many achieving perfect attendance.
• Job Loyalty: Workers with developmental disabilities typically express positive attitudes towards their employers and coworkers, and much greater than average longevity in jobs.
• Employee Morale: Many businesses report that hiring someone with a developmental disability increases the sense of teamwork among employees.
• Customer Satisfaction: Hiring workers with developmental disabilities enhances a company’s image. Consumers prefer to give their business to a company that hires people with developmental disabilities.

“Preconceptions and limited understanding about developmental disabilities often keep people with disabilities from finding work,”says Keeley. “Employers worry that these employees will not be able to keep up with the pace or that their customers will disapprove. Yet in fact the opposite is true.”

The campaign will also educate business owners on the tax advantages available to them including the Small Business Tax Credit, the Transportation/Architectural Tax Deduction and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

Keeley notes that several approaches are available to help individuals with developmental disabilities find and retain employment. There are a number of organizations throughout Georgia providing services. All of these need better access to employers, a problem this new campaign will directly address.

Elements of the advocacy campaign include:

• A website aimed at Georgia employers with human resources information
• Answers to frequently asked questions
• Information on available programs, services and best practices
• At Work Success Stories: Why hiring individuals with developmental disabilities is in the best interest of a business
• A speakers bureau available to groups statewide, including hiring/HR managers and business owners
• Training for interested employers
• Media campaign

About All About Developmental Disabilities

Founded in 1956, All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) is an Atlanta-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing family support, advocacy and training opportunities for individuals and families living with developmental disabilities.