Employing People with Intellectual and Development Disabilities Pays

Seattle, WA, October 07, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), a human capital research organization, has released a new study on the business impact of hiring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). With a foreword written by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the study, "Employing People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities," found that companies that hire those with IDD gain dependable, motivated workers who deliver observable business benefits, to include building inclusive cultures that attract broader talent pools.

The study is based on data collected from more than 200 organizations around the world and features case studies from leading employers including Fifth Third Bank, Walgreens, Natixis, Holland & Knight, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and Silicon Valley Bank.

Among the findings, employers of people with IDD reported that:

- (70%) The hiring practice supports their organization’s culture
- (57%) IDD workers are highly motivated employees who are good talent matches
- (43%) Employing people with IDD produces measureable and observable business benefits

Anthony Kennedy Shriver, founder and chairman of Best Buddies International, heralds the findings as powerful. “I am grateful to the Institute for Corporate Productivity for launching this important study that examines the practices, outcomes, and beliefs surrounding hiring people with IDD. As you read through the research findings, you will see that the results are encouraging, and highlight a notion that I have experienced my entire life. People with IDD are enormously talented, loyal, hard-working, and driven individuals who have the ability to contribute to the workplace,” Kennedy-Shriver noted.

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities comprise an underutilized population of potential employees proven to be a positive influence on co-workers, customers, the community, and a company’s bottom line,” said Kevin Martin, chief research and marketing officer at i4cp. “We are thrilled to bring forth research that highlights so many positives for people with IDD and for businesses that employ them.”

The publication of "Employing People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities" is one of several i4cp research initiatives on the topic of diversity and inclusion, which include the introduction of:

- A new survey focused on on the values and leadership behaviors that drive effective D & I (participants will receive a complimentary copy of the study’s preliminary findings) - http://bit.ly/XnNwVm
- A new four-page Executive Brief that outlines the 12 diversity practices of high-performance organizations - http://go.i4cp.com/12diversitypractices
- The SheSuite™, which features monthly in-depth interviews of senior women executives - http://www.i4cp.com/shesuite
- A Board comprised of Chief Diversity Officer’s from leading organizations - http://www.i4cp.com/solutions/chief-diversity-officer-board

About the Institute for Corporate Productivity
i4cp is a human capital research firm that discovers the people practices that drive high performance. Ranked among the fastest-growing companies on the Inc. 500|5000 list for four consecutive years, i4cp provides its extensive member network of leading global employers and government institutions with the research, peer collaboration, tools, and data essential to developing and executing workforce strategies and practices that deliver higher market performance. To learn about i4cp and i4cp's People-Profit Chain™, an empirical model to increase organizational performance up to 3x, go to i4cp.com/ppc.