Hiring employees with disabilities is a win-win for everyone—here’s why

My business partner, Jed Seifert , and I have been best friends since we were five years old. Growing up, his older brother Darren was always hanging out with us: riding bikes, playing soccer, and building forts in the woods. Wherever Jed went, Darren came along, and Darren continues to be a part of our friend group to this day, through elementary, high school, and college.

Darren was born with a condition called Fragile X syndrome, which causes developmental delays and cognitive impairment. But in spite of his challenges, Darren has been able to build an independent adult life for himself: he lives in a beautiful apartment, and has held a steady job in the mailroom at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the past 24 years.

Our experiences with Darren have led Jed and I to prioritize hiring people with varying levels of ability at every company we’ve run together for the past 17 years. But not all organizations are like ours. Even though roughly one in six people lives with a disability, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 8 out of 10 individuals in this demographic were not part of the workforce. Research suggests that this trend will only increase over time. 

October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which aims to shine a light on this issue and help business owners work towards building more inclusive teams. Jed and I, who run a print manufacturing company, are frequently approached by folks in our industry looking to diversify their workforces by hiring employees with disabilities. Later this year, we are releasing a book called Inklusivity: Company Benefits of Disability Inclusion and How-To Implementation Guide for the Print Industry, which outlines our learnings over the years.

The benefits of hiring people with disabilities are numerous. These individuals often seek stable, long-term employment, which leads to higher retention rates and less turnover. And their economic contribution is undeniable—an analysis found that even a one percent increase of people with disabilities in the workforce could boost the U.S. GDP by $25 billion. 

But it goes beyond basic math. Studies have shown that inclusive workforces that actively engage and support people with disabilities can profoundly enhance the overall work environment by boosting morale and contributing positively to the organization’s overall performance. 

My own experience at our current business, Stakes Manufacturing, proves this to be true. The attitudes of our employees with disabilities, which make up anywhere from 20 to 30 of our 225-person workforce, are among the best of anyone on the Stakes team. These individuals show up every day, ready to work hard, with an unyielding positive outlook—which helps drive our entire internal culture.

Of course, setting employees with disabilities up for success requires an investment in training and onboarding upon their hiring—but hiring at all ability levels is challenging for different reasons. Over the years, Jed and I have learned that if we spend time and energy at the onset, we reap enormous rewards in the long-run. So why exclude an entire demographic of talented workers simply because folks need a bit more time and investment at the beginning to get the hang of their roles?

A wealth of organizations across the United States are specifically geared toward helping individuals with disabilities find full time employment, and helping employers like us ensure they thrive. At our headquarters in Cleveland, we’re grateful to work with organizations such as CEVEC and Deepwood Industries, who partner with us in order to build a more inclusive workforce. A simple Google search should be able to lead you to groups that can help you in your own city or state (and if you get stuck, our book also lists about 20 pages worth of resources!). 

At the end of the day, to manage a successful company, you have to invest in your entire workforce, no matter what. And investing in our community of employees with disabilities has been a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Raising the Stakes - Disability Inclusion video