Creating Inclusive Workforces
Our Mission
The Inspiration Foundation is dedicated to increasing the employment rate of individuals with disabilities by fostering consumer awareness and driving business impact. We encourage companies to build more inclusive workplaces, highlighting the value and untapped potential of a diverse workforce. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, we inspire businesses to embrace disability inclusion, leading to meaningful employment opportunities and creating a more equitable, innovative, and successful marketplace for all.
Call to Action
Employing people with disabilities is not just a matter of inclusion, but a key to unlocking untapped potential in the workforce. Individuals with disabilities bring diverse perspectives, unique problem-solving skills, and strong resilience to the workplace, qualities that drive innovation and strengthen teams. Yet, many businesses overlook this valuable talent pool, missing opportunities for growth and development. By embracing inclusive hiring practices, companies can build more dynamic, adaptive workplaces that reflect the diversity of their communities while contributing to a more equitable and prosperous society. It's time to recognize that employing people with disabilities isn't just the right thing to do—it's a smart business decision.
The NumbersÂ
The statistics on employment among individuals with disabilities reveal a significant and concerning gap in workforce participation. While 1 in 4 people have a disability, only 22.5% of individuals aged 16 and older with a disability are employed, compared to 65.8% of those without a disability. For working-age individuals (ages 16-64), just 37% of people with disabilities are employed (6.2 million), a stark contrast to 75% of people without disabilities (144 million).
Furthermore, the unemployment rate among people with disabilities is more than double that of the general population—7.2% compared to 3.5%. Even more striking, about 75% of all individuals with disabilities aged 16 and older are not even in the labor force, compared to 32% of those without disabilities.
These disparities underscore the urgent need to address barriers to employment for people with disabilities. Companies that prioritize inclusive hiring and provide accommodations for workers with disabilities not only foster equity but also tap into a vast and underutilized talent pool, driving innovation and business success.
Our Solution
Despite years of advocacy, the unemployment rate among individuals with disabilities remains unacceptably high. At the Inspiration Foundation, we are committed to building on the work of past leaders and organizations, collaborating with companies to create meaningful, lasting change. Our mission is to move from advocacy to action, driving measurable impact in reducing unemployment among individuals with disabilities.
Our founders, Mike and Isaac, have firsthand experience in employing individuals with disabilities through their for-profit ventures. Their journey has produced a proven playbook that can inspire and guide other companies in building inclusive workforces. We understand that fostering an inclusive environment requires a dedicated champion within each organization, and we are here to empower those champions by teaching them how to leverage this diverse workforce as a competitive advantage.
While much work remains, many companies are already leading the way by hiring individuals with disabilities—yet they are not talking about it. We believe these success stories, along with the efforts of a new generation of champions, deserve to be celebrated and rewarded by consumers who are looking for companies that are making a positive impact by advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
To honor these trailblazing companies, the Inspiration Foundation is proud to introduce the Inspiration Seal—a certification that recognizes businesses committed to hiring individuals with disabilities. Launched on October 8th, 2024, this certification not only celebrates their contributions but also enables us to track and verify our collective progress. Certified member companies will play a vital role in our mission to increase employment for individuals with disabilities by 10%, driving real change across industries.