What are the benefits of hiring people with developmental disabilities?
• Dedicated and reliable employees: People with developmental disabilities have built a reputation for themselves as hard-working and dedicated employees who take pride in their work and the organizations that employ them. CEO Greg Heim of Modern Drop Forge has employed Eddie Aguirre, who has developmental disabilities, for the past six years. Talking about his satisfaction with the arrangement, Heim says, “I wish half of my employees came to work as excited as Eddie does.” • Low employee turnover: Strong employer loyalty pays off in reduced costs associated with turnover. A three-year study at Washington Mutual, Inc. found a turnover rate of 8 percent among people with developmental disabilities, compared with an overall rate of 45 percent, according to an article in Crain’s Chicago Business (April 7, 2003). • Agency-provided job training: Workers are trained for your company’s specific needs by agencies such as those that belong to the Side-by-Side Coalition, a group of 10 agencies t
