Inclusion Drives Innovation

Kansas Truck Mobility is a provider of transportation solutions for people with disabilities and we pride ourselves in working closely with every customer’s unique needs to provide a mobility solution that works best, especially when it comes to transportation to and from work. This is relevant today because October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

Held each October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year.

In keeping with theme of NDEAM 2017, which is “Inclusion Drives Innovation”, there are some interesting advantages that can arise from allocating time & resources to the transportation needs of all employees. These advantages go beyond financial incentives, although employers should be aware of tax benefit programs like the Disabled Access Tax Credit and the The Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction. One such benefit is an expanded candidate pool to replace an aging workforce that is nearing retirement. We mentioned innovation, and it is always important for the next generation of employees to bring in new ideas and an ability to solve problems. According to the Transportation Toolkit for the Business Community Fact Sheet #3, people with disabilities can help gain competitive edge through innovative thinking as well as offer insight into the needs of expanding customer base. A 2006 survey entitled National Survey of Consumer Attitudes Toward Companies that Hire Individuals with Disabilities showed an overwhelming preference for companies with inclusive policies for people with disabilities, with 87 percent of respondents preferring to give their business to a company with inclusive disability policies. So there is a distinct advantage to an increased focus on hiring people with disabilities.

Innovation must come from the employer as well, though.  Transportation to and from work can often be a major obstacle for people with disabilities because of schedules that don’t coincide with public transportation. Here are some helpful articles on some transportation solutions:

Ridesharing

Travel Training

Learn how you can support NDEAM by visiting the ODEP website: www.dol.gov/ndeam.