The disability rights movement has made significant strides over the past decades, fighting against discrimination to advance equal access and inclusion. An ongoing challenge, however, remains expanding competitive integrated employment, where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can earn livable wages and contribute their talents in regular workplace settings.
Employment Barriers for People with Disabilities
Despite progress, barriers limiting economic opportunities persist for people with IDD today.
Unemployment and underemployment carry heavy consequences, negatively impacting quality of life across domains from income status to social connectivity. Additionally, the broader economy suffers from underutilization of this population’s talents.
An estimated 85% of adults (18+) with developmental disabilities do not have a paid job in the community. This stark statistic underscores the need for continued efforts to address systemic barriers and create inclusive employment opportunities that tap into the diverse skills and abilities of individuals with IDD.
Best Buddies Jobs Leads the Way
A leader in this arena is Best Buddies International, whose jobs program facilitates connections between skilled job seekers with IDD and inclusive-minded employers. Operated alongside their friendships, leadership development, and integrated living initiatives, Best Buddies Jobs promotes vocational inclusion through customized job matching based on individuals’ unique strengths, interests and abilities.
Launched in 2001, the program has expanded across 50,000 employer partners in 14 countries to become a premier model for competitive integrated disability employment worldwide. With over 5,500 job placements for people with IDD already enabled, Best Buddies Jobs continues rising to the forefront of the workforce inclusion movement.
“For over 20 years, Best Buddies Jobs has pioneered pathways toward inclusive employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” remarked Founder and Chairman Anthony K. Shriver. “Our participants’ stellar job performance continues disproving misconceptions about disabilities in the workplace. Their talents, loyalty and dedication consistently impress employers, adding diversity and value to the labor force.”
Best Buddies Jobs: A Solutions Leader
Seeking to shift these trends, the Best Buddies Jobs program empowers participants by identifying good employment matches that suit individual strengths. Candidate strengths are diverse, ranging from detail orientation, empathy, loyalty, focus on tasks, and willingness to learn and onboard quickly. Equipped with the proper placement and accommodations, these transferrable skills allow people with IDD to thrive and add value across industries and employer needs.
From resume-building to interview prep, paperwork aid, job training, and ongoing support, Best Buddies employment consultants help job seekers navigate each stage toward integrated career success. Meanwhile, businesses access an untapped talent pipeline to fulfill their hiring and retention goals. In removing barriers on both ends, tailored job matching unlocks wins for all.
Outcomes Speak for Themselves
The proof lies in the data: Whereas nationally people with IDD average 11-15 working hours per week and $9-11 hourly wages, Best Buddies Jobs participants log over 20 hours weekly and earn nearly $15 per hour on average. These above-average statistics for the IDD community translate to 27% higher weekly income and 40% higher hourly pay rates.
With livable wages come greater financial independence and community participation – markers of inclusion Best Buddies Jobs makes possible. Plus, 85%+ job retention rates after one year demonstrate the program’s placements set participants up for success.
Beyond Job Seekers: Broad Societal Benefits
Advocates emphasize competitive integrated employment’s advantages extend across families, employers, taxpayers and local economies. A 30-year term life projection by Best Buddies estimates each employed person with IDD earning upwards of $1 million income, contributing $250,000 in taxes plus $750,000 less reliance on federal assistance programs compared to unemployment.
For businesses, disability inclusion promotes customer loyalty, morale, and cost savings from lower turnover rates. As customer sentiment and investor pressure pushes more companies toward CSR and ESG goals, leading disability employers become diversity trailblazers, benefiting early.
Ultimately, fulfilling the workforce potential of those with IDD enriches communities everywhere. Best Buddies Jobs moves this vision forward, setting an example for the public and private sectors to expand inclusive opportunities.
The Path Ahead
While progress occurs, Best Buddies’ State of the Union report stresses 80% of people with disabilities of working age remain unemployed. Much work lies ahead to capture the economic and social benefits of empowering this group’s untapped talents.
Spotlighting this unfinished business, the report calls upon government, businesses, schools, providers and community groups to invest in collaborative solutions. Embracing evidence-based integrated employment programs like Best Buddies Jobs provides a blueprint.
“Competitive, integrated employment remains out of reach for nearly 80% of working-age people with disabilities,” stressed Shriver. “Best Buddies Jobs offers a proven, scalable solution toward unlocking their vast potential. But government, businesses, schools and communities must join together to further opportunities for vocational inclusion and independence. Investing in programs like ours continues paying dividends across society.”
Two decades in, their proven model continues flourishing globally. Yet beyond program outputs, its impact affirms people with IDD’s equal rights and dignity while bringing shared value to all of society. In recognizing and elevating these individuals’ abilities, the destiny they shape ultimately belongs to us all. The torch stands passed to carry progress forward.
Visit our jobs section at bestbuddies.org/jobs to discover how you can hire talented individuals with IDD to strengthen your workforce with diversity and inclusion.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
